India-made bullet train body frame ready, testing on tracks to begin in May next year: Railways Minister

New Delhi: For the first time in India, the bullet train being prepared in the country has now moved forward in the direction of track testing. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in Vadodara on Tuesday that the first body frame of the train has been sent for structural testing. He said that by May-June 2027, the bullet train made in India can be launched on the track and testing can be started. After this, testing will be done for several months and if successful, the further process will proceed.

Why is the ‘squeeze test’ of the body frame being done?

The first body frame of the train was sent for squeeze test on Monday. This test is important because in this the strength of the train is tested by applying prescribed pressure on its structure. Only after this test will the train be taken forward for the next phase of testing.

Vaishnaw said that work is going on rapidly towards the construction of bullet train in the country. Its objective is not only to make trains in India but also to develop the technology and manufacturing capacity related to high speed rail in the country. This train to be manufactured in India is also being linked to the 'Vande Bullet' project. Its design is being prepared in collaboration with Integral Coach Factory and BEML.

What will happen on track in May-June 2027?

According to the Railway Minister, the bullet train made in India can be launched on the track for testing in May-June 2027. After this, testing will be done under different conditions for about three to four months. After completion of testing, the process of preparing the train for further passenger service will begin.

However, the country's first bullet train service will be launched separately as part of the phased operation of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed ​​Rail Corridor. Preparations are on to start the Surat-Bilimora section in the first phase. The government has set a target of operationalising this section in 2027.

When will the Surat-Vapi section be ready?

The construction work in Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed ​​Rail Project is also progressing rapidly. Vaishnav said that the target is to complete the construction of Surat-Vapi section by December 2026. After this, different sections will be opened for passenger service in a phased manner.

This 508 km long corridor includes parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. A total of 12 stations are being built in the project.

How long will the journey from Vadodara to Mumbai take?

After the introduction of the bullet train, the travel time between Vadodara and Mumbai is expected to be reduced to about one and a half hours. At present, rail travel between the two cities takes much more time than this. The objective of the High Speed ​​Rail project is to create fast connectivity between the major industrial and business centers of the country.

Will railways get big boost with freight corridor?

With the progress of Bullet Train, the freight network in Western India has also strengthened. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday dedicated three important sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor to the country. Their total length is 326 route kilometers and more than Rs 20,700 crore has been spent on them.

These include New Sanand North-New Makarpura, New Umargaon-New Saphale and New Saphale-New JNPT section. Direct rail connectivity to JNPT is expected to reduce transit time between the port and industrial areas. This can also help in reducing logistics costs and reduce pressure on Mumbai's existing rail network. With the commissioning of these sections, the entire length of the Dedicated Freight Corridor network has become operational.