How India is making bullet trains: Ashwini Vaishnaw offers sneak-peek into Mumbai-Ahmedabad rake — Video

The B28, or Bharat-made bullet trainset, is India’s indigenous high-speed train project. It is designed for a speed of 280 kmph and is being developed for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor. Its importance lies in creating a bullet trainset within India rather than relying entirely on overseas procurement.

BEML is designing, manufacturing and commissioning two trainsets under a contract awarded by Integral Coach Factory in October 2024. The work includes carbody fabrication, sidewall and roof assembly, underframe work, car assembly, surface preparation and testing. The B28 will have eight cars and fully air-conditioned Chair Car coaches.

The project follows challenges in obtaining rolling stock from Japan. The prototype is expected by early 2027, with the first train likely ready in the first quarter of that year. After testing, it is planned for service on the Surat-Vapi section, targeted to open in August 2027.

India’s first domestically manufactured bullet trainset is being built at BEML’s Aditya plant in Bengaluru. This facility contains specialised infrastructure for high-speed train production. Precision-engineered jigs and fixtures help maintain accuracy while carbody parts are fabricated and assembled.

The manufacturing sequence includes underframe, sidewall and roof assembly, followed by car assembly, surface preparation and treatment. BEML is also making side modules and roof modules before integrating them into the train. The process includes fitting onboard equipment such as HVAC systems, couplers and other train assemblies.

These stages matter because high-speed trains need precise construction, strong bodies and consistent dimensions. The Railway Minister reviewed the work and watched the Squeeze Test, which checks structural performance. BEML aims to roll out the prototype by early 2027, before testing at the Surat depot.

The B28 has a design speed of 280 kmph. This means the trainset has been engineered for that maximum design capability. However, the Railways plans to run it initially at 250 kmph on the high-speed corridor.

The Ministry of Railways explained that the B28’s initial operating speed will be lower than its design speed. The article does not give a more detailed technical reason, such as route conditions or safety procedures. It states only that the train will run at 250 kmph in its initial phase, while its design speed is 280 kmph.

This distinction allows the train’s capability and its first operating plan to be described separately. The trainset must still complete testing and trial runs at the Surat depot before commercial clearance. The first planned service section is the 97-km Surat-Vapi stretch, targeted for August 2027.

Each B28 trainset will comprise eight cars. The trainsets will use fully air-conditioned Chair Car coaches, with features such as reclining and rotatable seats, provisions for passengers with restricted mobility and onboard infotainment systems.

The contract’s total value is Rs 866.87 crore for two high-speed trainsets. The article also gives a price of Rs 27.86 crore for each car. However, the total contract value covers more than the individual cars. It includes design costs, one-time development costs, non-recurring charges, and one-time costs for jigs, fixtures, tooling and testing facilities.

Integral Coach Factory awarded BEML the contract in October 2024. BEML is responsible for designing, manufacturing and commissioning the trainsets. The prototype is expected by early 2027, after which the trainset will move to the Surat depot for testing and trial runs before commercial operations.

The Squeeze Test is a quality assurance process for the train carbody. It subjects the body to controlled compressive and tensile forces. The purpose is to assess whether the structure has enough strength, rigidity and dimensional stability.

During the Railway Minister’s visit, BEML demonstrated this test. A carbody must retain its shape and structural performance when forces act on it. The test therefore examines important qualities before the train proceeds toward high-speed service. It forms part of a wider manufacturing process that includes precision jigs, fixtures, underframe work, sidewalls, roofs and car assembly.

Such checks matter because the B28 is being designed for 280 kmph and will initially operate at 250 kmph. The article identifies precision, strength and quality as necessary standards for high-speed rail. Further testing and trial runs will take place at the Surat depot before passenger operations are approved.

After BEML completes the trainset, it will be transported to the Surat depot. The depot is being developed by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited, or NHSRCL. This site will support the final preparation of the indigenous trainset for service.

The trainset must undergo testing and trial runs at the depot. These checks will take place before it is cleared for commercial operations. The article does not list every test planned there, but it clearly identifies testing and trial runs as necessary steps before passengers can travel.

This process follows the train’s manufacture and prototype rollout. BEML aims to roll out the prototype by early 2027, while the first train is likely to be ready in the first quarter of 2027. The Railways is targeting August 2027 to open the 97-km Surat-Vapi section of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor.

Rolling stock refers to railway vehicles used to carry passengers or goods, including trainsets and their cars. In this project, it includes the high-speed B28 trainset, its eight cars and key systems such as HVAC equipment, couplers, seats and other assemblies.

Domestic development matters because the Ministry of Railways reported challenges in obtaining rolling stock from Japan. BEML is therefore designing, manufacturing and commissioning two trainsets in India. The work also builds local capability in carbody fabrication, precision assembly, testing and high-speed train production.

The B28 is designed for 280 kmph and is planned to operate initially at 250 kmph. Its prototype will go to the Surat depot for testing and trial runs before commercial clearance. If the planned schedule is met, the trainset could support the first bullet train service on the 97-km Surat-Vapi section, targeted for August 2027.