Japan and India To Unveil New Bullet Train in High-Speed Rail Collaboration
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India's Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor will become the launch site for Japan's next-generation E10 Shinkansen bullet trains.
The Indian Ministry of Railways announced on Monday that the E10 trains, the successor to Japan's current generation of E5 Shinkansen, would make their debut in both countries simultaneously.
Newsweek contacted the Ministry of Railways and the Japanese Ministry of Transport via email for more information on the announcement.
An E5 Shinkansen bullet train on tracks in Japan, Tokyo, on May 16, 2012.
An E5 Shinkansen bullet train on tracks in Japan, Tokyo, on May 16, 2012.
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Why It Matters
The introduction of E10 trains in India shows that there are deepening economic and technological ties with Japan. Japan's bullet trains are a huge part of the country's culture and the envy of the infrastructure world, so the fact that they are willing to share the spotlight with India suggests a high level of trust between the two nations.
What To Know
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train initiative will use the E10 model following initial testing of E5s.
The E10 series is set for commercial debut in Japan in 2030, at the same anticipated time that the Indian rail project will provide full connectivity to Mumbai.
The Indian Ministry of Railways said in a statement on Monday: "The Japanese Shinkansen [system] is currently running E5 trains. Next generation trains are E10.
"In the spirit of strategic partnership between Japan and India, the Japanese government has agreed to introduce E10 Shinkansen trains in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train project. It is noteworthy that E10 will be introduced simultaneously in India and Japan."
The rollout will be the first time Japan has introduced its most advanced rail technology abroad in sync with its own domestic launch.
According to the Ministry of Railways, trials for the high-speed trains are scheduled between 2026 and 2027, while full-scale commercial service is targeted for 2027.
The trains will connect 12 stations with an end-to-end travel time of just over two hours for limited-stop services, achieving speeds of almost 200 miles per hour, and crossing Gujarat, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Maharashtra.
Earlier in this week, rumors emerged that the Indian government would not be partnering with Japan to run their trains on the project, and would instead be using Indian-made trains.
However, the Ministry said that these reports were inaccurate, and that the partnership with Japan remained in effect.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad project began work in September 2017, with construction accelerating in the years after the pandemic.
Of 12 planned stations, five are complete, with several others nearing completion. Fifteen river bridges have been constructed, with four close to completion.
What People Are Saying
India's Press Information Bureau said on Tuesday, in response to reports that the Japanese collaboration had been canceled: "Some articles and social media posts claim that the Ministry of Railways has decided to not run the Japanese bullet train on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route.
"This claim is misleading. The Railway Ministry has made no such decision. Work on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor is progressing as per the planned schedule."
What Happens Next
Commercial operations are expected by 2027, with the E10 debut anticipated in 2030 to coincide with Japan's own rollout.
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