India to Expand Bullet Train Network; First Surat–Bilimora Section to Open in 2027

India’s first bullet train project is progressing rapidly, with the 50-km Surat–Bilimora section set to open in 2027, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Saturday. Civil work at Surat station has been completed, with finishing and utility installations now underway. The full Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor is expected to be commissioned by 2029, reducing travel time between the two cities to just 2 hours and 7 minutes.

Vaishnaw highlighted advanced technologies being used in the project, including composite sleepers, roller bearings, modern turnout systems, vibration dampers, and enhanced safety mechanisms to ensure stability at speeds of up to 320 kmph.

The minister also confirmed that India will soon begin work on three more bullet train corridors in the north, east, and south, expanding the high-speed rail network to four major routes. He said the Mumbai–Ahmedabad line would integrate the economies of Mumbai, Thane, Vapi, Surat, Vadodara, Anand, and Ahmedabad into a single zone, similar to the transformation seen in Japan after its first bullet train project.

“This project will be a multiplier for regional growth, and the upcoming corridors will ensure nationwide development,” Vaishnaw said.