Bengaluru's BEML to produce India’s first high-speed 250 kmph bullet train: Report

Bengaluru is set to produce India’s first high-speed train, with BEML winning the bid to manufacture two train sets capable of reaching speeds of 280 km/h.

Published on: Sep 20, 2024, 13:10:45 IST

By Yamini C S

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In a fresh development, Bengaluru is set to produce the country’s first high-speed train, set to operate at 250 km/h, to serve the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor.

The first train is expected to be completed by December 2026, serving the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor. (Representational Image/Shutterstock)

The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) on September 5 announced a tender to manufacture two high-speed chair-car trains, capable of reaching a top speed of 280 km/h. Bids were due by September 19, and BEML was the only company to submit a proposal for the two eight-car train sets, the Moneycontrol reported.

U Subba Rao, ICF’s general manager, spoke to reporters on the matter and stated that the tender process would conclude soon. The trains will be built at BEML’s Bengaluru facility, with an expected production timeline of two and a half years.

While the exact cost of the trains hasn’t been revealed yet, estimates range from ₹200 crore to ₹250 crore each, the report noted. These trains will serve the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor, which spans 508 kilometres and will cost about ₹1.1 lakh crore.

Originally, Japanese trains were planned for this route, but high costs prompted a shift to domestic production. BEML and another organisation called Medha Servo Drives are expected to collaborate on the project to ensure that the trains meet European standards, the publication stated. Medha will develop a propulsion system for speeds up to 250 km/h, while BEML will focus on the structural integrity needed for such velocities. Medha’s propulsion technology is already used in the Vande Bharat trains, an official said, as quoted in the report.

The first train, set to operate at 250 km/h, is projected to be completed by December 2026, with trials planned for the Surat-Bilimora section. Designed with seven cars in a 3 + 2 seating layout and one executive car in a 2 + 2 arrangement, it will have a seating capacity of around 174 passengers, with future expansions possible based on demand, it added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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