India And Japan To Launch Latest Shinkansen E10 Bullet Train Simultaneously By 2029-30

India and Japan are set to introduce the latest iteration of the Shinkansen, the Alfa-X, also known as the E10, simultaneously in 2029-30.

Initially, indigenously developed high-speed trains will operated on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai corridor after the project's completion next year.

According to recent reports, Tokyo has agreed to India running its own high-speed prototypes on the same infrastructure, set to be ready by 2026-27.

Previously slated to receive the Shinkansen E5, India now looks forward to the E10, capable of reaching speeds up to 400 kmph—an upgrade from the E5’s 320 kmph limit.

This development was attributed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strong push for the project and his excellent relationship with Japanese leadership, following high-level visits to Japan by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in 2024.

To avoid keeping the bullet train infrastructure idle post-completion in 2026-27, India and Japan have agreed to test and launch two indigenously manufactured semi-high-speed bullet trains on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai corridor by 2027.

Indian Railways’ Integral Coach Factory (ICF) awarded an Rs 867 crore contract to BEML Ltd in October 2024 for the production and commissioning of these trains.

Expected to be delivered by the end of 2026, the trains are designed for a top speed of 280 kmph, though they may operate at around 249 kmph.

The Shinkansen Alfa-X (E10), which is still undergoing trials in Japan, represents the future of high-speed rail with its groundbreaking speed and technology.

The $17 billion Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project is a joint initiative by the Indian government, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, executed by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).

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