New Delhi: In a significant leap forward for India's high-speed rail ambitions, the government has announced that the country's next-generation indigenous bullet train is being planned with a top speed of 350 kilometres per hour . Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the development, stating that work on the train's design is expected to commence within the next six months .
This announcement comes as Indian Railways prepares to debut its first indigenous high-speed train, the B28, which is designed to run at speeds of up to 280 kmph . The B28 prototype is currently being developed by Bengaluru-based BEML in collaboration with the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) and is expected to be ready early next year . It is scheduled to begin operations on a section of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor by August 2027 .
Graduated Approach to High-Speed Rail
The 508-kilometre Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, India's first high-speed rail project currently under construction, has been designed to support trains running at speeds of up to 320 kmph . The upcoming 350 kmph train, informally referred to as the B35, represents a strategic upgrade that will serve as the standard rolling stock for the country's expanding high-speed network .
According to Vaishnaw, the new high-speed trains are being equipped with specialised features tailored to India's diverse climatic conditions, ensuring optimal performance across different regions . The Railway Board has also affirmed that safety will remain the top priority as new technologies are integrated into the system .
Expanding the High-Speed Network
The ambitious 350 kmph project aligns with the government's broader vision for high-speed connectivity across India. The Union Budget 2026-27 announced seven new high-speed rail corridors spanning nearly 4,000 kilometres and expected to attract investments of approximately ₹16 lakh crore . These corridors include routes connecting Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi, and Varanasi-Siliguri .
The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has been entrusted with implementing these projects, with instructions to revise Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) and finalise uniform technical standards for high-speed rail across the country .
The 350 kmph bullet train project underscores India's commitment to developing indigenous high-speed rail technology while significantly reducing inter-city travel times and promoting sustainable mobility
