Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that India’s first bullet train will begin its inaugural 100-km run between Surat and Vapi in August 2027, The New Indian Express reported.
The section is part of the larger 508-km Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed corridor, also known as Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, which is expected to be fully operational by 2029.
At Rail Bhavan, after unveiling the rationalisation of bulk cement rates and the policy for bulk cement terminals on Tuesday, Vaishnaw said the Mumbai–Ahmedabad travel time would drop to 1 hour 58 minutes once the corridor is ready.
He added that the first operational run in August 2027 would be limited to the 100-km Surat–Vapi stretch.
“A significant milestone is that the bullet train will cover the distance between Ahmedabad and Mumbai in just 1 hour 58 minutes upon the completion of the high-speed rail corridor. The inaugural run in August 2027 will cover 100 km between Surat and Vapi,” Vaishaw said.
The minister said trains on the 508-km corridor will operate at speeds of up to 320 kmph.
With four stops, the Mumbai–Ahmedabad trip will take 1 hour 58 minutes, while halting at all 12 stations will extend the journey to 2 hours 17 minutes.