India and Japan have made significant progress in discussions on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, with Japan agreeing to supply its next-generation E10 Series Shinkansen bullet trains for the corridor in the early 2030s.

The E10 Series trains are currently under development in Japan and are expected to become the next generation of high-speed Shinkansen technology. According to officials, the first deliveries are planned for the beginning of the next decade.

Domestic High-Speed Trains to Begin Initial Operations

Since the first section of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor is targeted to become operational by 2027, India and Japan have agreed that the project’s initial services will begin using indigenously developed high-speed trains until the E10 Series becomes available.

The decision is aimed at ensuring that the country’s first bullet train services begin without delay while the Japanese trains are still under development.

India, Japan Hold Positive Talks

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said discussions between India and Japan on the high-speed rail project have been positive.

He said Japan will supply the E10 Series high-speed trains in the early 2030s, while construction of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor is progressing rapidly. He added that both countries have agreed to commence operations with Indian high-speed trains before transitioning to Japan’s next-generation Shinkansen fleet.

Project to Cut Travel Time to Under Two Hours

Once fully operational, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities to just 1 hour and 58 minutes, significantly improving connectivity between India’s two major commercial hubs.

The central government believes the project will strengthen economic integration, promote business travel, and boost regional development.

508-km High-Speed Rail Corridor

The 508-kilometre Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor will span 352 kilometres across Gujarat and the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, while the remaining 156 kilometres will pass through Maharashtra.

The corridor will connect major stations including:

• Sabarmati
• Ahmedabad
• Anand
• Vadodara
• Bharuch
• Surat
• Bilimora
• Vapi
• Boisar
• Virar
• Thane
• Mumbai

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project is India’s first bullet train corridor and is being developed with technical and financial assistance from Japan, marking a major milestone in the country’s high-speed rail ambitions.