India’s high-speed rail ambitions are set to take a major leap forward, with the first section of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) Corridor scheduled to become operational in August 2027. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the inaugural services will run on the 100 km stretch between Surat and Vapi in Gujarat, marking the country’s entry into the era of bullet trains.
The 508 km MAHSR project, being built with technical support from Japan and modeled on Shinkansen systems, is one of India’s most advanced infrastructure initiatives. Once fully operational, the high-speed rail line will connect Mumbai and Ahmedabad in under two hours, significantly reducing current travel times and reshaping mobility across the western corridor.
Vaishnaw noted that express services on the completed route will cover the distance in 1 hour 58 minutes, while trains with stops at all 12 stations will take around 2 hours 17 minutes. The high-speed trains are designed to run at up to 320 kmph, making them the fastest passenger transport system in the country.
Construction across the entire corridor is targeted for completion by December 2029, linking major urban centres such as Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Vapi, Boisar, Virar, Thane, and Mumbai. The project aims to catalyse economic activity, improve regional connectivity, and introduce globally benchmarked travel standards in India.
Built with significant Japanese collaboration, the high-speed rail network will integrate earthquake-resistant infrastructure, state-of-the-art signalling, dedicated elevated tracks, and advanced safety protocols, positioning India among the nations equipped with full-scale bullet train systems.