Bullet trains in India are still in the project and construction stage, with the country’s first high-speed rail (HSR) line—Mumbai–Ahmedabad—currently under construction.
Several other high-speed corridors such as Delhi–Varanasi, Delhi–Ahmedabad, Chennai–Bengaluru–Mysuru, Mumbai–Nagpur, and Hyderabad–Bengaluru are under planning via Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).
These bullet trains in India are being designed for 320–350 km/h, following global benchmarks like Japan’s Shinkansen.
Table of Contents
What is Bullet Train Project?
Across the world, “bullet trains” refer to high-speed trains running above 300 km/h on specially built tracks. In India, all bullet train corridors follow:
- Standard gauge (1,435 mm) tracks
- Dedicated elevated / underground rail lines
- Design speed of 320–350 km/h
- Advanced signaling and automatic train control
- Full fencing and zero level crossings
This is very different from upgraded fast trains like Vande Bharat Express, which operate on the existing broad-gauge network at 130–160 km/h.
History & Timeline of Bullet Trains in India
- 2009–2014: India identifies major high-speed corridors under the High-Speed Rail vision.
- 2016: Formation of NHSRCL – National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited.
- 2017: Groundbreaking of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train by PM Narendra Modi & Japan’s PM Shinzo Abe.
- 2018–2025: Land acquisition, viaduct construction, and tunnel works progress.
- 2025: 300+ km of viaduct and multiple station structures completed.
The Mumbai–Ahmedabad project is the first Indian bullet train corridor to enter the construction phase.
Full List of Bullet Trains in India (Planned + Under Construction)
| S.No | Corridor | Length (km) | Speed (km/h) | Category | Status | Planned Opening |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mumbai–Ahmedabad HSR | 508 | 320 | Bullet (HSR) | Under Construction | 2027–2029 |
| 2 | Delhi–Ahmedabad HSR | 886 | 320 | Bullet (HSR) | DPR Stage | 2031 |
| 3 | Delhi–Varanasi HSR | 865 | 320–350 | Bullet (HSR) | DPR Stage | 2041 |
| 4 | Varanasi–Howrah HSR | 711 | 320–350 | Bullet (HSR) | DPR Stage | 2031 |
| 5 | Delhi–Amritsar HSR | 480 | 320 | Bullet (HSR) | DPR Stage | 2051 |
| 6 | Patna–Guwahati HSR | 850 | 320 | Bullet (HSR) | Proposed | 2051 |
| 7 | Amritsar–Jammu HSR | 190 | 320 | Bullet (HSR) | Proposed | 2051 |
| 8 | Nagpur–Varanasi HSR | 855 | 320 | Bullet (HSR) | Proposed | 2041 |
| 9 | Hyderabad–Bengaluru HSR | 618 | 320–350 | Bullet (HSR) | Proposed | 2041 |
| 10 | Chennai–Hyderabad HSR | 744.6 | 350 | Bullet (HSR) | DPR Stage | TBD |
| 11 | Chennai–Mysuru HSR | 435 | 320–350 | Bullet (HSR) | DPR Stage | 2051 |
| 12 | Mumbai–Nagpur HSR | 742 | 320 | Bullet (HSR) | DPR Stage | 2051 |
| 13 | Mumbai–Hyderabad HSR | 747 | 320–350 | Bullet (HSR) | DPR Stage | 2051 |
| 14 | Pune–Nashik Higher-Speed Rail | 268 | 200 | Higher-Speed | Proposed | TBD |
| 15 | Silver Line (Kerala) | 529 | 200 | Higher-Speed | Awaiting Approval | TBD |
| 16 | Ahmedabad–Rajkot Higher-Speed | 225 | 220 | Higher-Speed | Proposed | TBD |
Current Status of Bullet Trains Project – Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train
The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) is India’s first operational bullet train corridor.
Key Highlights
- Length: 508 km
- Design Speed: 320 km/h
- Technology: Japanese Shinkansen
- Stations: 12
- Construction:
- 300+ km viaduct completed
- Work progressing on India’s first undersea HSR tunnel
- Expected Opening:
- 2027: Surat–Bilimora section
- 2029: Full corridor
This project will cut Mumbai–Ahmedabad travel time from 7–8 hours to ~3 hours.
Read: Vande Bharat Sleeper Trains in India – Routes, Launch Date, Ticket Price, and Coach Design
Proposed Routes for Bullet Trains in India
India plans more than a dozen high-speed rail corridors as part of the National Rail Plan 2030–2050.
Key corridors include:
- Delhi–Varanasi HSR (865 km)
- Delhi–Ahmedabad HSR (886 km)
- Varanasi–Howrah HSR (711–760 km)
- Delhi–Amritsar HSR (480 km)
- Mumbai–Nagpur HSR (742 km)
- Mumbai–Hyderabad HSR (711–747 km)
- Chennai–Bengaluru–Mysuru HSR (435 km)
- Hyderabad–Bengaluru HSR (618 km)
- Patna–Guwahati HSR (850 km)
- Nagpur–Varanasi HSR (855 km)
- Amritsar–Jammu HSR (190 km)
Bullet Trains in India – Challenges
- High project cost (Mumbai–Ahmedabad: ₹1.6+ lakh crore)
- Land acquisition hurdles
- Urban tunnelling complexities
- Higher ticket pricing concerns
- Dependence on foreign technology initially
Future of Bullet Trains in India
India is already developing indigenous high-speed trainsets and working on domestic capabilities for:
- Rolling stock
- Signalling
- Track systems
- Construction engineering
As the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train becomes operational, more HSR corridors are expected to move into the execution phase.
Interesting Reads
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- Amrit Bharat Station Scheme – Full List Of State-Wise Stations
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- Vande Bharat Train Delhi To Katra
- Delhi To Bhopal Vande Bharat Express
- Bhopal To Delhi Vande Bharat Express
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- Vistadome Train Bangalore To Mangalore
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