India Develops First Indigenous High-Speed Bullet Train

India is developing its first indigenous high-speed bullet train at the Bharat Earth Movers Limited facility in Bengaluru, Karnataka. Designed for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor, the train features an operational speed of 249 kmph and a maximum test speed of 280 kmph.

BEML Limited is producing the eight-car configuration, which measures approximately 202 metres in length and can carry 557 passengers. The design includes dedicated spaces for Persons with Reduced Mobility, executive and standard class seating, bio-digester toilets, and a Wi-Fi-based infotainment system. Technical specifications include a 25 kV AC traction system and regenerative braking, with an aerodynamic profile optimized via Computational Fluid Dynamics to minimize noise and air resistance.

Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently inspected the manufacturing process at the Bengaluru facility to oversee the progress of the project, which is managed by the Ministry of Railways.