Will India see its first bullet train operating by July 2026? Here's what to know

The first bullet train project in India is now under construction and will link Ahmedabad, Gujarat, and Mumbai, Maharashtra. India will finalize the agreement to purchase the first six Shinkansen (bullet) trains from Japan by the end of the month. 

The Indian Railways are "confident" that the nation's first bullet train will start service in June or July 2026 in Gujarat. Additionally, according to the report, by August 15 of this year, the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) would put out bids for all contracts, including the one for the purchase of trains and operational systems.

Explore features of the bullet train:

Progress of project

All district collectors have been instructed by the state government to finish the land transfer by the end of this month. A lot of effort has been put into figuring out how to accelerate physical advancement to make up for the time we lost during the previous Maharashtra government. 

The project's entire physical progress as of January 2024 was approximately 40%, according to officials, with Gujarat having made more progress (48.3%) than Maharashtra (22.5%). According to a minister of the railways, Maharashtra has made amazing progress in the last few months. 

Bullet train services and routes

The route, spanning 508 km, will feature services that stop at all stops as well as only a few stations. The all-stop trains will need an extra 45 minutes to arrive at their destination, whilst the limited-stop services will finish the trip in about two hours.

Six river crossings have also been constructed, and the corridor's viaduct, which is an elevated section, has been finished for more than 100 km in the last year. There are twenty bridges on the Gujarat segment of the road, seven of which have been built.

Details by NHSRCL:

Bullet trains launching in India, is a symbol of the nation becoming more progressive. The bullet trains will help travelers to reach their destination faster, and the brand new transport will provide improved comfort.