Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train BIG Update, 160 Km of track bed completed in Gujarat, operations likely to begin by…, top speed to be…

Currently, there are four Flash Butt Welding Machines which are operational, and more than 1,543 such panels—translating to over 154 track km—have been welded so far.

New Delhi: The Indian Railways has made a significant progress on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project with the start of track slab installation and Cement Asphalt Mortar (CAM) filling on viaducts at multiple locations in Gujarat. As per the NHSRCL, the implementing agency for the high-speed rail corridor, around 160 km of track bed construction has been completed in the state.

It is important to note that over 39,500 precast track slabs have been cast—covering nearly 197 track km in total. A key milestone in the track installation phase has been the Flash Butt Welding (FBW) of 25-metre-long, 60 kg rails into 200-metre panels at various Track Construction Bases (TCBs).

Currently, there are four Flash Butt Welding Machines which are operational, and more than 1,543 such panels—translating to over 154 track km—have been welded so far. NHSRCL has said that the track installation process is mechanised with cutting edge machinery designed and manufactured in India

Notably, the entire track laying process is being carried out using high-end, indigenous machinery under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

Here are some of the key details:

• Rail Feeder Cars (RFC) carry 200-metre rail panels and lay temporary tracks on the reinforced concrete (RC) beds.
• The RFCs were earlier operated in Surat and Anand. The RFC helped lay nearly 78 track km of temporary tracks.
• Track Slab Laying Cars (SLC) was Deployed in Bilimora and Vadodara.
• These machines have the capacity to transport and place up to five precast slabs at a time onto the viaduct.
• CAM Injection Cars, stationed in Bilimora and Vadodara, mix and inject CAM under the slabs to maintain the precise alignment and elevation of the tracks.

India’s first high-speed bullet train corridor connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad is rapidly transforming from blueprint to reality, with trial runs scheduled on the Sabarmati–Vapi stretch by 2028 and full operations across the 508-km corridor expected by 2030.

Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project: All You Need To Know

• The Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor spans 348 kilometres in Gujarat and 156 kilometres in Maharashtra
• The officials have strategically placed stations in key growth centres including Mumbai, Thane, Boisar, Vapi, Surat, Vadodara and Ahmedabad.
• Among these, Surat is set to host India’s first operational bullet train station, which is now nearing completion.
• Union Minister Harsh Sanghvi recently confirmed that the station is on track to begin trial runs next year, with full-scale operations expected by 2029.
• Designed with Japanese assistance, the bullet train system incorporates noise-reducing infrastructure—over three lakh sound barriers have already been installed.
• Thematic stations are being designed to integrate seamlessly with local road and rail systems, strengthening regional connectivity and providing future-ready transport nodes.