Bullet train by 2027! Key routes revealed; which cities will be linked first?
India's first bullet train is slated for a 2027 launch, with the Surat to Bilimora section opening first. The ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, developed with Japan, promises speeds up to 320 kmph, drastically cutting travel time. Additionally, the first Vande Bharat sleeper train will debut in January 2026, offering comfortable overnight journeys.
India is set to get its first bullet train by 2027! Union minister of railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday announced that India is likely to receive its first Bullet Train on 15 August 2027.
180 Kmph While You Sleep! India's Latest Vande Bharat Sleeper Marks New Era. Check Fares, Features
Speaking about the timeline of the project, he said, "The bullet train will be ready in 2027, August 15th, 2027.”The minister further informed about the routes, saying, “the first section to open will be from Surat to Bilimora. After that, Vapi to Surat will open. Then Vapi to Ahmedabad will open, and after that, Thane to Ahmedabad will open, and then Mumbai to Ahmedabad will open.""For the bullet train ... you can buy a ticket now itself, as it will be operational by 2027," he further added, jokingly.Also read: Vande Bharat sleeper to be launched this month! Ashwini Vaishnaw announces route & fares; check detailsThe 508-km Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor, India’s first high-speed rail line, has been steadily progressing, with significant work completed on viaducts, bridges, tunnels, and stations. The corridor, which will operate at speeds of up to 320 kmph, is expected to reduce travel time to under two hours. Officials earlier said that 320 km of viaduct work is already complete, with land acquisition, tunnelling, station construction, and electrification moving ahead simultaneously.
The project, developed in collaboration with Japan, combines Shinkansen standards with Indian engineering at scale, and officials expect the first operational run in 2027, with full corridor operation by 2029.The minister also announced that the first Vande Bharat sleeper train is set to be launched this month. PM Narendra Modi is expected to flag off the service in the second half of January 2026.Speaking about the success of the Vande Bharat Express, Vaishnaw said it has created a "new sense of confidence across the country," and added that the train has been widely appreciated. "Requests are now coming in from all over India to run Vande Bharat trains, and almost every MP wants one. With the same comfort, safety, and standards, a new overnight journey will begin with the Vande Bharat Sleeper," he informed.