In a significant development for India’s high-speed rail ambitions, Vande Bharat trains will temporarily run on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor until the much-anticipated Japanese Shinkansen trains arrive. This interim measure aims to utilize the infrastructure efficiently and offer passengers a high-speed travel experience sooner.
According to officials, the indigenous Vande Bharat trains, known for their modern amenities and semi-high-speed capabilities, will serve as a stopgap solution. The bullet train project, which is being developed with Japanese collaboration, is facing delays in the arrival of the advanced Shinkansen rolling stock. In the meantime, deploying Vande Bharat trains on the corridor will ensure that the high-speed rail infrastructure does not remain idle.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor, India’s first such project, is designed to support speeds of up to 320 km/h with Shinkansen technology. While the Vande Bharat trains operate at a lower speed, their deployment will still provide passengers with faster and more comfortable travel compared to conventional rail services.
Railway authorities have assured that this move will not affect the overall progress of the bullet train project. Once the Shinkansen trains arrive and are fully operational, Vande Bharat trains will be reassigned to other routes to enhance connectivity across the country.
The decision to run Vande Bharat trains on the bullet train corridor reflects India’s commitment to optimizing infrastructure utilization while working towards the long-term goal of a world-class high-speed rail network.
