After the successful creation of the remarkable Vande Bharat Express, India is now venturing into the development of high-speed trains. The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai and Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) are collaborating on the design and manufacturing of high-speed train sets. These indigenous bullet trains will have a maximum speed of 280 km/h, as confirmed by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in a written response in the Lok Sabha. He stated that following the success of Vande Bharat trains under the “Make in India” initiative, Indian Railways has now taken up the task of designing and manufacturing high-speed train sets.
The Railway Minister revealed that the cost of constructing an indigenous bullet train coach is approximately ₹28 crore, making it highly competitive compared to other train sets. While responding to questions from BJP MPs Sudhir Gupta and Anant Nayak, he highlighted that the design and construction of high-speed train sets is a complex and technically intensive process.
Contract Awarded to BEML
The government-owned Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) has been awarded a ₹867 crore contract to design, manufacture, and operate two high-speed trains. These trains are expected to be ready by the end of 2026. Each train will have eight coaches, with a per-coach manufacturing cost of ₹27.86 crore. The total cost of the two train sets will be ₹866.87 crore.
Also Read- New Delhi to Srinagar Vande Bharat Sleeper Train to Launch in January 2025- All You Need to Know
Aerodynamic Design
The indigenous bullet trains will feature an aerodynamic design to facilitate rapid acceleration and reduce noise levels. These train sets will include premium chair car facilities, automatic doors, optimized climate control for passenger comfort, CCTV surveillance, mobile charging ports, suitable lighting, and advanced fire safety equipment. They will be designed to meet international standards and equipped with modern amenities to enable future exports.
First Bullet Train: Mumbai to Ahmedabad
India’s first bullet train will operate between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. Providing an update on the 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared that 336 km of pier foundation, 331 km of pier construction, 260 km of girder casting, and 225 km of girder launching have been completed. Additionally, work on the 21-km-long undersea tunnel has commenced.