India to make fastest-ever bullet train to match Japan's E10

India is getting closer to having its own high-speed bullet train, as Railways are working on the B35, a train designed to reach speeds of up to 350 kmph. The project is part of India's plan to develop more railway technology at home and reduce its dependence on foreign technology.

India is aiming to develop these homegrown bullet trains by 2030 while also building the infrastructure needed to run them.

The development comes after the Union Cabinet approved a higher budget for the Mumbai Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project. The total cost has now gone above Rs 2 lakh crore, which is almost twice the first estimate in 2015. Around Rs 1 lakh crore will come from the Union Budget to help fund the project.

According to a Times of India report, India began working on the B35 bullet trains after Japan said in December 2024 that it would gradually stop making existing E5 series trains. The country mentioned that production of its newer E10 trains is expected to start in 2030, and the trains will be ready for service by 2034. Indian officials may look at using the E10 trains once they become available.

At the same time, India has started developing its own B28 high-speed trains. The country is also working on the Bharat Train Control System (BTCS), an Indian train control and signalling system. The system will help control train speeds, maintain a safe gap between trains and make railway travel safer. It is similar to China's CTCS, which is used for both normal and high-speed trains.

According to an earlier Ministry of Railways release, the MAHSR project covers 508 km. The route will pass through Gujarat, Maharashtra and Dadra & Nagar Haveli. A total of 12 stations are planned, including Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.

Integral Coach Factory (ICF), together with Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), is designing and making new train sets. These trains are being made to run at speeds of up to 280 kmph.