New Delhi: The Ministry of Railways has confirmed that the first operational stretch of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor will use an indigenously produced bullet train, the B28, marking a significant step in India’s high-speed rail programme.
According to information shared with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Railways, services on the initial 97-kilometre segment between Surat and Vapi are planned to begin in August 2027 using the domestically built trainsets. BEML Limited is currently manufacturing the B28 trains.
The ministry explained that the high-speed rail initiative involves complex engineering work and advanced technologies, including components sourced from international partners such as Japan. While Japan is developing the next-generation E10 series Shinkansen, detailed specifications are still evolving. In the meantime, India has decided to deploy the locally developed B28 trainsets for the first phase of operations.
Officials also informed the committee that contracts have been awarded for a modern signalling system based on the European Train Control System Level 2 (ETCS L2) standards, and that implementation work has already begun. The final launch schedule will depend on the completion of civil structures, tracks, power systems, telecommunications, signalling infrastructure and delivery of the trainsets.
The B28 trains are expected to operate at up to 280 km/h on the Surat-Vapi section. The government is working toward meeting the August 2027 target to initiate passenger services on this portion of the corridor.
The ministry also addressed questions regarding project costs. The high-speed rail project was initially estimated at Rs 97,636 crore in December 2015, based on the original feasibility study. However, expenses have risen due to several additional factors not fully accounted for in the initial estimate.
Among the key contributors to the increased cost are taxes and levies, utility relocations, development of station approach infrastructure, power supply arrangements, introduction of indigenous trainsets and ETCS signalling, ticketing systems, and statutory charges related to forest clearances. Since the project’s approval, inflation and higher input costs have significantly increased expenditure.
Land acquisition has emerged as another major cost component, particularly in urban areas such as Mumbai, where property prices have surged. As a result, expenses related to land purchase and resettlement and rehabilitation have increased considerably. The revised cost estimate for the project is currently under government consideration.
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