India is contemplating the adoption of the upcoming generation of shinkansen bullet trains, currently under development by East Japan Railway Co., for an ongoing high-speed rail initiative in the western part of the country, according to sources knowledgeable about Indo-Japanese relations who spoke on Monday.
The E10 series trains are slated to commence service in Japan on the Tohoku line, linking Tokyo with the nation’s northeast region, beginning from the fiscal year starting April 2030, as announced by the operator, JR East.
The bullet train project in India spans approximately 500 kilometers connecting the western cities of Ahmedabad and Mumbai, with an estimated travel duration of roughly two hours. Representing collaboration between Japan and India, this venture will utilize Japan’s shinkansen technology.
The groundbreaking took place in 2017, with an initial aim to launch operations by 2023. However, land acquisitions have faced delays due to resistance from locals, causing the schedule to be pushed forward later than planned.
The highest velocity attainable by the E10 series train reaches up to 320 kilometers per hour. JR East highlighted its exceptional safety standards, mentioning that the technology underwent numerous tests utilizing advanced prototypes designed for future iterations of shinkansen.