Bullet Train Project: Railway Ministry And Japanese Officials Set To Confer On 1 September For Rolling-Stock Cost Finalisation

A crucial meeting is scheduled for 1 September between top officials from the Railway Ministry and the Japanese government to review the progress of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.

During the meeting, the joint committee is expected to make the final decision on the cost of the rolling stock. The joint committee serves as the highest consultative body for advancing projects of mutual interest and benefit.

This meeting holds great importance as the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), the agency responsible for implementing the project, has already awarded all the civil contracts for the 508 km high-speed rail project.

Recently, bids were invited for the procurement of 24 E5 Series Shinkansen train sets, estimated to cost around Rs 11,000 crore.

The meeting will be chaired by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with a delegation from Japan. In the previous meeting, Mori Masafumi, special adviser to the Japanese Prime Minister, co-chaired the discussions.

According to a Times of India report, there are only two major pending issues to address: the rolling stock and the signalling system.

Finalising the cost of the trains will expedite their procurement process. The government aims to launch the first bullet train in 2027, operating on the Gujarat portion of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai corridor.

Only Japanese players are permitted to participate in the procurement of rolling stock, in accordance with the funding regulations of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Currently, only a few Japanese rolling stock companies, such as Hitachi Rail and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, manufacture such train sets. The deadline for companies to submit their bids, is the end of October.

Each Shinkansen train set will consist of 10 coaches and have a capacity to accommodate 690 passengers. The Times of India report, indicate that the train sets will be modified to withstand the harsh Indian summers and prevalent dust.

The first train is expected to arrive before 2027, so that it can be operationalised between Vapi and Sabarmati in Gujarat in 2027.

High speed trains on Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor (MAHSR) will operate at a speed of 320 km per hour, covering a distance 508 km and 12 stations. There will be 35 trains per day/one direction, with a frequency of 20 mins in peak hours and 30 mins in non-peak hours.