November 21, 2025: India’s first high-speed rail project—the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train corridor—is set to begin partial operations in August 2027 with a 100-km stretch between Surat and Vapi, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced, as reported by The New Indian Express. This marks a crucial phase in the development of the 508-km Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) line, which is expected to be fully operational by December 2029.
Speaking at Rail Bhavan after releasing new policies on bulk cement rates and terminal guidelines, Vaishnaw highlighted the transformative impact of the project on intercity travel. He reiterated that once complete, the corridor will cut travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to under two hours. “A significant milestone is that the bullet train will cover the distance between Ahmedabad and Mumbai in just 1 hour and 58 minutes upon the completion of the high-speed rail corridor. The inaugural run in August 2027 will cover 100 km between Surat and Vapi,” he said.
The trains on the corridor are designed to run at speeds of up to 320 kmph. With four stops, the journey between the two cities will take 1 hour 58 minutes, while a service halting at all 12 stations will take 2 hours 17 minutes. Vaishnaw noted, “The bullet train will cover the distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in 1 hour 58 minutes with four stops. However, if it halts at all 12 stations, the total journey time will be 2 hours 17 minutes.”
While the minister did not specify whether the first service will use Japanese Shinkansen rolling stock or an Indian-built train, he emphasised that the Surat–Vapi segment is expected to commence operations in August 2027. He also said the Prime Minister recently reviewed progress in Surat and urged the replication of project-led innovations across national infrastructure. Vaishnaw added that the project involved several technical complexities resolved through indigenous innovations, and confirmed that the Shinkansen system remains the preferred choice due to its reliability.
