Japan to Gift 2 High-Speed Bullet Trains to India for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Corridor Testing

Japan reportedly plans to provide India with two Shinkansen train sets—one each from its E5 and E3 series—free of cost, to be used as inspection vehicles for the upcoming Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor. The proposal comes amid reports that India was developing an indigenous train set for the under-construction line.

According to a report by The Japan Times, these high-speed bullet trains will be delivered in early 2026, after being retrofitted with specialized equipment to collect data on local operating conditions such as heat and dust.

The 508-km high-speed corridor, connecting Mumbai to Sabarmati in Gujarat, is scheduled for a partial launch in August 2027.

Interim Solution Ahead of E10 Trains

Initially, Japan was expected to supply next-generation E10 Shinkansen trains from East Japan Railway (JR East) for passenger operations. However, the delivery of these advanced trains has been delayed.

As an interim measure, the older E5 and E3 models will be used to support early operational testing and fine-tune the network ahead of the E10’s eventual deployment. The E10 trains are now expected to be operational for full passenger service starting in the early 2030s, according to the report.

Bullet Train Project Sees Rising Costs

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor is being primarily funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), covering approximately 80% of the project cost.

Initially estimated at around Rs 1.08 lakh crore ($17 billion), the project cost has reportedly escalated due to delays. JICA is expected to provide Rs 59,396 crore in Official Development Assistance (ODA) loans. So far, a loan agreement of Rs 22,627 crore (400 billion Japanese Yen) has been signed. The loan has a 50-year tenure with a 0.1% interest rate and a 15-year moratorium, with repayment spread over the remaining 35 years.

According to The Japan Times, the two governments are expected to finalise a new yen loan framework to support the introduction of E10 trains. The agreement is likely to be signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Japan for a bilateral summit.

The remaining cost will be shared by India’s Ministry of Railways, the Government of Maharashtra, and the Government of Gujarat. Overall, Japan will finance 81% of the total project cost through JICA.