India’s First Bullet Train Likely To Begin Testing By May 2027, Says Railway Minister

India’s first bullet train is expected to begin testing by May-June 2027. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared updates on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project.

Post Published By: Subhash Raturi

Updated : 10 September 2026, 7:51 PM IST

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reveals the latest timeline for India’s ambitious bullet train project (Image: Google)

New Delhi: India’s ambitious bullet train project is moving closer to reality, with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announcing that the country’s first indigenous high-speed train is expected to begin testing by May or June next year. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor, considered one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship infrastructure projects, will be introduced in staggered phases. The initial operations are planned between Surat and Vapi. The minister said the testing phase will continue for around two to four months before the high-speed train is formally inaugurated.

Surat-Vapi section expected to be ready first

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said construction work on the bullet train corridor is progressing rapidly, with the Surat-Vapi section expected to be completed by December this year. Vaishnav added that the first body frame of the bullet train has already been prepared and sent for a squeeze test to assess its structural strength and safety standards. According to the minister, India’s first bullet train will enter the testing phase by May or June, followed by detailed trials before passenger operations begin.

Bullet train project to open in multiple phases

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project will not become fully operational at once. Authorities plan to introduce services gradually across different sections. The planned rollout includes Surat to Vapi section, Vapi to Ahmedabad section, Ahmedabad to Thane section and complete Ahmedabad-Mumbai corridor. Once completed, the project is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad while introducing a new era of high-speed transportation in India.

India expanding high-speed rail network

Apart from the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, the government has approved several other bullet train routes across the country. The proposed high-speed rail corridors include sectors such as Mumbai-Pune, Bengaluru-Chennai, Bengaluru-Hyderabad, Pune-Hyderabad, Delhi-Lucknow, Delhi-Varanasi
and Delhi-Siliguri. These projects aim to improve connectivity between major cities and reduce travel time through advanced rail technology.