India to Launch Indigenous ‘B28’ Bullet Train by March 2027 as High-Speed Rail Ambitions Accelerate

The project was awarded in October 2024 by Integral Coach Factory, which has entrusted the defence public sector undertaking with the responsibility of designing, building, and commissioning two advanced high-speed trainsets. All images are AI-generated using Google Gemini.

According to the Ministry of Railways, work on the B28 project is already in progress at BEML Limited. Two indigenous high-speed trainsets, designed to run at speeds of up to 280 kmph, are currently being developed within the country. All images are AI-generated using Google Gemini.

In its initial phase, Indian Railways plans to introduce the B28 bullet train on the Surat–Vapi route. This 97-km section is part of the larger Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor, which is targeted to become operational by August 2027. “A decision has been taken to start the operation using B28. Efforts are underway to start operation using B28 (Bharat made Bullet, 280 kmph) for Surat to Vapi (97km) in Aug 2027,” the Ministry added as reported by The Indian Express.

Japan is also progressing with the development of its next-generation E10 series Shinkansen trains.

Under the agreement, each B28 trainset will consist of eight coaches, with the cost of a single coach pegged at Rs 27.86 crore. According to the reports, the overall contract is v

alued at Rs 866.87 crore, covering design, development, tooling, testing infrastructure, and other one-time expenses. The high-speed train will feature fully air-conditioned Chair Car coaches designed for passenger comfort. It will also include modern amenities such as reclining and rotatable seats, dedicated facilities for passengers with reduced mobility, and onboard infotainment systems for an enhanced travel experience.

The B28 initiative underscores India’s push toward indigenous high-speed rail technology, aligning infrastructure development with advanced engineering capabilities while preparing for the operational launch of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor in August 2027.