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Even Japan couldn't build a 500km bullet train in 10 years, says rail expert
M
Moneycontrol•07-10-2026, 00:56
Even Japan couldn't build a 500km bullet train in 10 years, says rail expert
- •Masafumi Shukuri, chairman of the International High-Speed Rail Association, defended India's progress on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, stating that even Japan would struggle to complete a 500km corridor within a decade.
- •The 508-km high-speed rail project faced timeline revisions due to unforeseen challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic and difficulties in acquiring land.
- •The first operational section between Surat and Vapi in Gujarat is scheduled to open by December 2027 and will utilize Indian-developed B28 bullet trains instead of Japanese E10 Shinkansen sets.
- •India's state-owned BEML in Bengaluru is manufacturing two trainsets with a design speed of 280 kmph, which will undergo rigorous testing between May and July 2027.
- •Shukuri emphasized that transitioning to domestic rolling stock requires extensive personnel training, safety trials, and technical preparation to ensure stable and reliable operations.
Key Questions Answered
According to Masafumi Shukuri, chairman of the International High-Speed Rail Association, the delays are due to unforeseen challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic and difficulties in acquiring land.
The first operational section of the corridor between Surat and Vapi in Gujarat is scheduled to open by the end of 2027, with the entire project targeted for completion by 2029.
India is developing its own high-speed train, designated B28, through the state-owned company BEML in Bengaluru, with manufacturing scheduled to be completed by April 2027.
