According to a senior government official India has commenced developing a homegrown high-speed train that can exceed speeds of 250 kilometres per hour (kmph). It is expected that this train will surpass the speed of all the trains currently operating on the Indian Railways network.

According to an official speaking to Economics Times, the upcoming high-speed train is being designed based on the Vande Bharat platform, known for achieving speeds of up to 220 kmph. The train's blueprints are currently being developed at the Indian Railways Integral Coach Factory. Media reports highlight that internationally renowned high-speed trains such as the French TGV and the Japanese Shinkansen are known for their capability to travel at speeds exceeding 250 kmph.

India's advancements in high-speed rail have been supported by the international community.The Mumbai-Ahmedabad line will be operated by Japanese technology-driven bullet trains that are presently under construction, reflecting India's progress towards self-reliance in this field. The Shinkansen E5 series trains, designated for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route, have the capability to reach speeds as high as 320 kmph.

The official highlighted that the focus is on both speed and efficiency. The forthcoming Vande Bharat trains will accelerate from zero to 100 kmph in 52 seconds, which is two seconds faster than existing bullet trains. Manufactured by ICF with pride, the Vande Bharat trains showcase India's strong engineering capabilities. They will operate on the newly announced north, south, and east corridors, emphasizing the use of Indian technology and domestic manufacturing.

The new corridors will complement the existing western corridor, which is a product of India-Japan collaboration. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is extending a soft loan of about Rs 40,000 crore for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project, with the total project cost exceeding Rs 1.08 lakh crore.

The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL), in charge of India's first bullet train project, achieved a significant milestone by finishing 300 kilometers of pier construction. Additionally, the thorough process of acquiring land for the entire 508 km stretch was completed in January, marking a significant step forward for India's venture into high-speed rail technology.

Source - Times Of India