Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train can travel at 249 kmph speed carrying up to 1,114 passengers with two 8-coach trains joined to form a 16-coach train; free Wi-Fi for passengers

India's first indigenous bullet train is moving closer to reality, with the manufacturing of its prototype nearing a crucial safety-testing milestone at Bharat Earth Movers Limited's (BEML) facility in Bengaluru. Named Bharat 28 (B-28), the high-speed train is being developed for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor and will be capable of carrying 557 passengers across eight coaches.

The train is designed to achieve a maximum test speed of 280 kmph, while its operational speed will be 249 kmph. It will feature seven standard-class coaches, one executive-class coach, Wi-Fi connectivity, charging points, wide windows, accessible toilets and facilities for passengers with reduced mobility. The Railways is targeting commercial operations in August 2027.

Squeeze test nearing completion, what happens next?

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited BEML's Aditya manufacturing facility in Bengaluru on November 1 to review the production of India's first homegrown bullet train.


One of the important stages underway is the squeeze test of the first coach's integrated car body. This test checks whether the train's structure can withstand heavy external pressure and forces without excessive deformation or structural failure.

Vaishnaw said the squeeze test was in its final stage and would be completed the following week.

After this, engineers will install the propulsion system and other electronic equipment. The coach will then undergo climatic testing to check its ability to operate in different weather conditions, including temperatures as high as 50 degrees Celsius, extreme cold, dusty environments and heavy rain.

BEML, a central public sector undertaking, is manufacturing the first two indigenous bullet trains, each consisting of eight coaches.

8 coaches, 557 passengers and 249 kmph operating speed

The Bharat 28 trainset will be approximately 202 metres long and have eight coaches, including four motor cars and four trailer cars.

Its seating arrangement will include:

• Seven standard-class coaches with 3x2 seating.
• One executive-class coach with 2x2 seating.
• Total passenger capacity of 557, including dedicated spaces for two passengers with reduced mobility.

The train will have driver's cabs at both ends, equipped with an intelligent onboard control system to help the driver make decisions and coordinate with the operation control centre.

Another provision is the ability to couple two eight-coach trains to form a 16-coach formation. This will allow the Railways to increase passenger capacity when required.

Wide windows, Wi-Fi and charging points: What passengers will get

The train's interiors are being designed around Indian passenger requirements, with ergonomically designed seats, generous legroom and wide windows positioned alongside every row of seats.

Passengers will also get LED interior lighting, overhead luggage racks and dedicated floor-mounted storage stands for oversized luggage. Individual power outlets will allow travellers to charge laptops and mobile phones during the journey.

A Wi-Fi-based infotainment system will provide access to preloaded entertainment. LCD displays inside the coaches will provide passenger information in English, Hindi and regional languages. Automatic announcements and public address systems will keep passengers updated throughout the journey.

Emergency talk-back units will also be installed in passenger cabins and vestibules, allowing travellers to communicate with train staff when required.

The coaches will have bio-digester toilets and dual-unit heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems to maintain comfortable temperatures and humidity throughout the year.

Wheelchair access, Braille signs and other accessibility features

The Bharat 28 train will include several features for passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility.

Its floor will be aligned with the platform height to enable level boarding. Retractable footsteps integrated into the doors will help reduce the horizontal gap between the train and platform.

Dedicated seating, wheelchair-friendly doors and accessible toilets will also be provided.

For visually impaired passengers, the train will have Braille-enabled information signage.

Regenerative braking and aerodynamic design

The train will operate using a 25 kV AC overhead electrical system.

It will also use regenerative braking technology, which captures energy generated when the train slows down and feeds it back into the electrical grid. This helps reduce energy consumption.

Its aerodynamic body and nose have been designed using computer simulations to reduce air resistance and turbulence. The design also aims to minimise pressure waves and noise when the train passes through tunnels.

Sound insulation in the car body and floor structure, along with noise-damping coatings, will further help reduce noise inside the coaches.

When will India's first bullet train begin operations?

The Railways plans to begin test runs of the indigenous train in the first quarter of the 2027-28 financial year on the approximately 100-km Surat-Vapi section of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor.

Commercial operations are targeted for August 2027.

The first two prototype trains are being manufactured at BEML. The broader Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor, spanning 508 km, is targeted for completion by December 2030.

The project marks India's effort to develop its own high-speed train technology, with the B-28 being developed without relying on Japanese Shinkansen technology.

(With TOI inputs)