Bengaluru’s BEML To Build India’s First Bullet Train Model, Prototype Work to Start This September

Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), a government-owned company based in Bengaluru, will start making the first model of India's bullet train in September 2025, according to a report by Financial Express.

The bullet train model, also called a prototype, will be made at BEML's existing factory in Bengaluru. This factory is already known for building Vande Bharat sleeper trains.

BEML's Chairman and Managing Director, Shantanu Roy, said the team is currently working on the design. "We are at the design stage now. Once that's done in a few months, we'll begin making the first train," Roy told Financial Express.

The train will be built using the latest technology to ensure safety, smooth operations, and strong materials.

Last year, the Integral Coach Factory gave BEML a contract to build two high-speed trains. Each train will have eight coaches and can run at a top speed of 280 km per hour. However, in real use, they will run at around 249 km per hour.

The total cost of the project is around ₹866 crore, which works out to about ₹28 crore per coach. This is cheaper than similar coaches from Japan, which cost ₹46 to ₹48 crore each.

The first coach of the train is expected to be ready by March 2026, followed by several rounds of testing to check how it performs under different conditions.

After the coach gets approval, BEML will quickly build 15 more cars. The full train will then be tested on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail route by December 2026.

To make sure everything is safe and built properly, BEML has hired international experts to check the design and construction. Specialists will also oversee the welding work and safety steps.

This project is part of India's big plan to improve its transport system. The Ministry of Railways is planning to build seven more high-speed rail routes in the future.

BEML says it is getting ready for more such projects. "We're training our staff and increasing our production ability," Roy said.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is mostly being paid for by Japan, through a very low-interest loan that covers 81% of the cost.