India chose indigenous bullet train as Japan could not deliver E10 before 2034: Official
- Japan informed India it could not deliver the E10 Shinkansen before 2034, prompting India to develop its own bullet train.
- The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor will now use domestically manufactured trains with an interoperable global signalling system.
- India and Japan have agreed to start operations on the corridor using indigenous trains, with Japanese collaboration on technology transfer.
India's decision to go indigenous
India decided to develop its own bullet train for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor after Japan communicated that it could not supply the E10 Shinkansen before 2034. A senior railway official confirmed this reasoning, marking a strategic shift in the country's most ambitious rail project.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Japanese side had indicated that delivering the E10 series by the earlier target was not feasible. India then chose to pursue an indigenous alternative to avoid further delays.
Interoperable signalling system
The project will now feature an interoperable signalling system, allowing trains from different manufacturers to run on the same track. This is a departure from the original plan, which relied on Japanese Shinkansen technology.
The Indian Railways is developing the rolling stock domestically, with technology transfer from Japan. The move is expected to reduce costs and build local manufacturing capabilities for high-speed trains.
India-Japan agreement remains intact
Despite the change in train supply, India and Japan remain in agreement on the project's overall framework. The Ministry of External Affairs said both countries are working together to start operations with domestically manufactured trains and a global signalling system.
This follows recent reports that India had rejected remarks by a former Japanese minister about delays in the Shinkansen project. Officials clarified that the shift to indigenous trains was a mutual decision, not a unilateral move by India.
Timeline and next steps
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, once expected to use Japanese trains exclusively, will now see Indian-built bullet trains in service. The exact timeline for the first run has not been announced, but officials expect a phased rollout.
Japan continues to provide technical assistance, including for the signalling system. The project remains on track for completion, though the change in train supplier may affect the initial launch date.
What to watch: The rollout of India's first indigenously built bullet train and the finalisation of a new target date for commercial operations on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor.