India and Japan Mutually Agree to Run Indigenous Bullet Trains

India and Japan have agreed to use indigenous bullet trains and globally interoperable signalling systems for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor, as per The Economic Times report.  

The decision was taken after Japanese suppliers did not submit proposals for key systems within the timeline required to begin operations on the Surat-Vapi section in 2027. The revised approach was agreed jointly by both governments. 

Supply Timelines Prompted Change 

Trainsets, signalling systems, and the Operations Control Centre are among the longest lead items in any high-speed rail project. Officials said India had been seeking proposals from Japanese suppliers for nearly two years.  

However, no offer was received for the signalling system, while proposals for trainsets could not support the planned operational schedule. 

Japan had proposed its next-generation E10 bullet train after phasing out the E5 series. However, the E10 is still under development and is expected to enter service in Japan around 2032.  

As per the report, officials said its availability in India would likely be around 2034, several years after the targeted launch of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor. 

Project Timeline Remains Unchanged 

Construction work on the 97-kilometre Surat-Vapi section is expected to be completed this year. The Railway Ministry plans to begin testing India's indigenous bullet trains by the middle of 2027, with commercial services on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route targeted to start in August the same year. 

Construction on the corridor began in 2021. Officials said Japanese technical experts continue to oversee approvals for designs, construction methods and quality standards.  

They added that engineering and execution-related decisions are being taken jointly by both sides throughout the project. 

Clarification After Public Remarks 

The project came into discussion after former Japanese law minister Hideki Makihara questioned India's decision to move away from Japan's Digital Automatic Train Control (DS-ATC) system and referred to delays in the project.  

Indian officials said Makihara was not involved in meetings related to the corridor. They added that discussions are being conducted with officials from Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. 

Funding Structure 

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project continues to receive Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).  

The financing arrangement includes procurement conditions linked to approved Japanese suppliers, while construction and system development continue under the existing bilateral framework. 

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Conclusion  

Construction and system development for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor are continuing, with both countries working towards commercial operations scheduled for 2027. 

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