India’s first Bullet Train project is moving closer to its testing phase, with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw saying the first test coach has already been manufactured.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project is progressing across multiple sections, with the Surat-Bilimora stretch targeted for commissioning in 2027. Civil construction on the Vapi-Surat section is expected to be completed by December this year.
Vaishnaw said the bullet train is expected to begin testing by May or June 2027. After a testing period of around two to four months, the train is expected to be inaugurated, according to his latest remarks.
The 508-km MAHSR corridor will connect Mumbai and Ahmedabad through 12 stations across Maharashtra, Gujarat and the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli. The wider high-speed rail service is targeted to begin in August 2027.
The project is expected to significantly reduce travel time between major cities along the corridor. Vaishnaw has said passengers travelling from Vadodara could reach Mumbai in around 90 minutes once the service becomes operational.
With civil construction advancing and train manufacturing entering the testing stage, the project is moving into a crucial phase for India’s high-speed rail ambitions.
