Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: India's High Speed Rail On Track For 2026 Launch From Bengaluru

Bengaluru is set to play a pivotal role in manufacturing India's first bullet train. The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) invited tenders on September 5 to produce two high-speed chair-car trains, with the bid submission deadline on Thursday, September 19. These stainless steel-bodied trains will feature a maximum speed of 280 km/h and an operational speed of 250 km/h. The manufacturing is expected to take place at BEML's Bengaluru plant, although the tender is yet to be finalized.

As reported by Moneycontrol, only BEML submitted a bid to build two eight-car train sets. U Subba Rao, General Manager of ICF, Chennai, noted that the tender would be finalized within a week. "Since the order is for only two coaches, other manufacturers showed little interest. We aim to complete production within 2.5 years," Rao said.

The train will feature seven standard bogies with a 3+2 seating arrangement and one executive bogie with 2+2 seating, with a total seating capacity of around 174 passengers. Based on future demand, up to 12 or 16 additional bogies could be added. These trains will be built for standard gauge tracks, with a focus on potential export to markets in Southeast Asia and Africa.

While the exact cost remains unclear, estimates suggest each train will cost between Rs 200-250 crore. The trains will operate on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor, under development by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).

Medha Servo Drives will manufacture the propulsion system and develop the train control management system (TCMS) software from its Hyderabad facility, while BEML will handle final assembly and rollout from its Bengaluru plant. Following successful trials, additional orders are expected for routes such as Delhi-Varanasi, Mumbai-Hyderabad, and Bengaluru-Chennai.

The first train, with a design speed of 280 km/h and operational speed of 250 km/h, is projected to be introduced by December 2026, with testing planned on the Surat-Bilimora section of the MAHSR line.