High Speed Rail Projects
High Speed Rail Projects
Overview
India’s High-Speed Rail (HSR) programme—popularly called “Bullet Train” projects—aims to run trains at 250–350 km/h on newly-built, standard-gauge corridors. The first corridor, Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR), is being implemented by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), a special-purpose vehicle under the Ministry of Railways, with technical & financial assistance from the Government of Japan through JICA.
Key Facts & Figures
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| 1st HSR Corridor | Mumbai–Ahmedabad (508.17 km) |
| Corridor States | Maharashtra (156 km) & Gujarat (352 km) |
| Operating Speed | 320 km/h (max 350 km/h) |
| Train Set Name | E5 Series “Shinkansen” (Japan) |
| Journey Time | 2.07 h (stop-to-stop) vs 6–7 h by conventional train |
| Stations (Total 12) | Mumbai (Bandra-Kurla Complex), Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand/Nadiad, Ahmedabad, Sabarmati |
| Underground Station | Mumbai BKC (27 m deep, 1st in India) |
| Cost (2017 base) | ₹1,08,000 crore (81 % JICA loan @ 0.1 %, 50 yr tenure, 15 yr moratorium) |
| Ground Breaking | 14 Sept 2017 (by PM & Japan PM) |
| Target Completion | Aug 2026 (1st section Surat–Bilimora trial run Dec 2025) |
| Japanese Tech | Shinkansen 0-accident legacy since 1964 |
| Signalling | Advanced ATC (Automatic Train Control) – no drivers’ signal sighting needed |
| Track Gauge | 1,435 mm (standard gauge) vs 1,676 mm Indian broad gauge |
| Ballast-less Track | Slab track with 25-tonne axle-load design |
| Power System | 25 kV 50 Hz single-phase (same as conventional, but rigid OHE) |
| Earthquake Safety | TREM system auto-stops train at 0.04 g seismic trigger |
| Make-in-India | 24 bullet-train rakes × 10 coaches; 75 % components to be made/domesticated in India (Sabarmati & Integral Coach Factory, Chennai) |
| Job Creation | 15,000 direct + 30,000 indirect |
| CO₂ Saving | 3.3 lakh tonnes/yr vs road/air |
Important Points
- NHSRCL incorporated (2016) under Companies Act; equity 50 % MoR, 25 % GoM, 25 % GoG.
- MAHSR alignment: 468 km elevated, 27 km underground (Thane creek + Mumbai), 13 km at-grade.
- Only 0.9 % gradient permitted (vs 1:150 in conventional).
- Noise barrier 3–5 m high along 320 km of elevated viaduct.
- Ticketing: Smart QR paper + NFC; no physical ticket punching.
- Stations classified as “Silver, Gold, Platinum” based on passenger capacity; Ahmedabad is Platinum.
- Train composition: 10 coaches (Executive + Chair car) → 750 seats; future 16-coach → 1,250 seats.
- Operational stations will have 400-m platforms (vs 200 m Indian Railways average).
- First girder launched (Dec 2021) – 40 m U-girder (120 t) through full-span launching gantry.
- Under-pass at Sabarmati: 11 km underground depot-cum-maintenance facility.
- National Rail Plan (2031) envisages 6 more HSR corridors (Delhi–Varanasi, Delhi–Ahmedabad, Mumbai–Nagpur, Chennai–Mysuru, etc.) totalling ~4,500 km.
- Diamond Quadrilateral HSR grid to connect Delhi–Mumbai–Chennai–Kolkata.
- RRTS (Regional Rapid Transit System) is semi-high-speed (160 km/h) and distinct from HSR.
- Indian Railways’ fastest train Vande Bharat (semi-high-speed) runs 180 km/h—NOT HSR.
- HSR trains will have “Delta” & “Alpha” classes (on-board catering & baggage allowance similar to airlines).
Frequently Asked in Exams
- Length, states covered & funding pattern of Mumbai-Ahmedabad HSR.
- Operating speed & technology name (Shinkansen E5).
- Implementing agency (NHSRCL) & year of incorporation.
- Difference between HSR (250–350 km/h) & semi-high-speed (≤200 km/h).
- JICA loan terms (0.1 %, 50 yr, 15 yr moratorium).
Practice MCQs
Question:01 What is the maximum design speed of trains on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor?
A) 250 km/h
B) 300 km/h
C) 350 km/h
D) 400 km/h
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The corridor is engineered for a top design speed of 350 km/h, although trains will initially operate at 320 km/h.
Question:02 [Which organisation is the nodal implementing agency for India’s bullet-train project?]
A) Indian Railways
B) NHSRCL
C) DMRC
D) IRCTC
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: NHSRCL (National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited) is the nodal implementing agency for India’s bullet-train project.
Question:03 The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor operates on which track gauge?
A) Broad gauge (1,676 mm)
B) Standard gauge (1,435 mm)
C) Metre gauge (1,000 mm)
D) Narrow gauge (762 mm)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, India’s first bullet-train corridor, adopts the globally accepted Standard gauge of 1,435 mm to ensure interoperability with proven high-speed rolling stock and technology.
Question:04 What percentage of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project cost is funded by the JICA loan?
A) 49 %
B) 61 %
C) 81 %
D) 91 %
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is providing an official development assistance (ODA) loan covering 81 % of the total project cost, with the balance met by the Governments of India and Maharashtra/Gujarat.
Question:05 Which of the following stations on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor will be India’s first underground high-speed rail station?
A) Surat
B) Ahmedabad
C) Mumbai (BKC)
D) Vadodara
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) station is designed as India’s first underground high-speed rail station on the MAHSR line, located 24 m below ground level to fit within the congested cityscape.
Question:06 The automatic train-control system adopted from Shinkansen is called
A) ATP
B) ATC
C) ATO
D) ETCS
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Shinkansen-derived system is ATC (Advanced/Automatic Train Control).
Question:07 What is the target year for commissioning the full Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor?
A) 2024
B) 2025
C) 2026
D) 2027
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has officially set 2026 as the target year for commissioning the entire 508-km Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor, India’s first bullet-train project.
Question:08 How many coaches will the initial E5 rake composition have?
A) 8
B) 10
C) 12
D) 16
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The initial E5 rake will be made up of 10 coaches.
Question:09 Which pair of states is directly connected by India’s first High-Speed Rail (bullet train) corridor?
A) Maharashtra & Gujarat
B) Maharashtra & Rajasthan
C) Gujarat & Madhya Pradesh
D) Karnataka & Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor, India’s first HSR project, runs between Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Ahmedabad (Gujarat), thereby directly linking these two states.
Question:10 The slab track permitted gradient for HSR is limited to
A) 0.5 % (1 in 200)
B) 0.9 % (1 in 111)
C) 1.2 % (1 in 83)
D) 1.5 % (1 in 67)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: For high-speed rail on slab track, the maximum permissible gradient is restricted to 0.9 % (1 in 111) to ensure ride comfort, braking safety, and energy efficiency at sustained high speeds.
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