India's first indigenous bullet train to begin track tests by May-June next year
If clearances and trials proceed as planned, the BEML-developed train could become a candidate for deployment on the first operational stretch of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor later next year.
India's first indigenous bullet train project is advancing towards crucial track testing, with the domestically developed prototype set to begin tests in May-June 2027. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced this during a 'NaMo for Viksit Bharat' event in Vadodara, revealing that the first body frame of the train has already been completed and sent for a squeeze test to verify its ability to withstand heavy pressure.
The train is designed for an operational speed of 250 kmph, with a maximum test speed of 280 kmph. Once track testing is complete, the train will be inaugurated. India aims to build domestic manufacturing capabilities for high-speed rail as part of its Atmanirbhar Bharat strategy and to boost local engineering and technology ecosystems.
The BEML bullet train, developed by state-owned BEML Ltd, is expected to start the testing phase, which will last around two to four months after testing begins. If successful, the train could potentially be deployed on the first operational section of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor later next year, potentially reducing the travel time between the two major cities to about two hours.
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