India is moving towards developing its own next-generation bullet trains, with the proposed B35 high-speed train being designed for speeds of up to 350 kmph by 2030. The plan comes even as the country prepares to test its first indigenous B28 bullet trains, which are expected to begin trials in 2027.

The B35 programme is part of India's broader push to build domestic capabilities in high-speed rail technology. The proposed trains are expected to serve future high-speed rail corridors being planned across the country.

The proposed B35 is an indigenous high-speed train with a design speed of 350 kmph. The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has already initiated a capability assessment for developing the train.

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The B35 is being planned for India's future bullet train corridors, including Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi and Varanasi-Siliguri.

The development of a 350 kmph train would place India's proposed high-speed rolling stock in the same broad speed category as Japan's next-generation E10 trains, which are scheduled to enter production in 2030, according to reports.

As per TOI, the railway ministry informed the Cabinet that it had started work on developing B35 trains after Japan said in December 2024 that production of its existing E5 series was being phased out. Japan also indicated that production of the next-generation E10 trains would begin in 2030, with the trains expected to enter service by 2034.

Before the B35, India is preparing to manufacture and test the B28, its first indigenous high-speed train.

State-owned BEML is manufacturing the B28 trainsets at its Aditya High-Speed Rail Complex in Bengaluru. The facility was inaugurated in April 2026 and is dedicated to high-speed rail manufacturing.

The B28 has a design speed of 280 kmph, while its maximum operating speed is expected to be 249 kmph. Two prototype trainsets are expected to be ready for trial runs in the first quarter of 2027.

BEML has already secured contracts covering 47 B28 trainsets. This includes an earlier contract for 32 trainsets and a separate order worth around Rs 5,400 crore for additional high-speed rolling stock and associated works for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor.

The development of indigenous bullet trains is closely linked to India's first high-speed rail project, the 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor.

The project's revised cost has risen to more than Rs 2 lakh crore, nearly twice the original estimate of around Rs 1.1 lakh crore. The revised estimate reflects significant increases in areas including land acquisition, infrastructure and high-speed rail systems.

The entire Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor is targeted for completion by December 2030, while an initial section is expected to become operational in 2027.

The corridor will initially use B28 trainsets, while future indigenous trains such as the B35 could support the expansion of India's high-speed rail network.

Alongside indigenous bullet trains, India is also working on domestic train-control technology for high-speed rail.

The proposed Bharat Train Control System (BTCS) is intended to provide train control and signalling capabilities for high-speed railway operations. The technology is being developed as part of the broader effort to build domestic expertise across the high-speed rail ecosystem.

High-speed trains require sophisticated signalling and train-control systems to manage speed, train spacing and safe operations, particularly at very high speeds.

Developing a high-speed train involves considerably more than increasing the power of the train.

At speeds approaching 350 kmph, the train body, suspension, wheels, braking systems and onboard control technology all need to work together to maintain stability and passenger comfort.

India's indigenous trains are also being developed with local operating conditions in mind. Unlike trains designed primarily for colder climates, Indian high-speed trains need to account for the country's heat, dust and other environmental conditions.

BEML's Aditya facility in Bengaluru has been established specifically to develop this high-speed rail capability. The government has described the development of indigenous high-speed trains as a significant engineering challenge and an important step towards building domestic expertise.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor is only the beginning of India's planned high-speed rail network.

Seven additional corridors have been identified for development. These include:

• Mumbai-Pune
• Pune-Hyderabad
• Hyderabad-Bengaluru
• Hyderabad-Chennai
• Chennai-Bengaluru
• Delhi-Varanasi
• Varanasi-Siliguri via Patna

The proposed network would expand India's high-speed rail footprint beyond the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route and create potential demand for domestically manufactured trainsets.

India's high-speed rail programme is therefore moving on two tracks, the immediate development of B28 trains for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor and the longer-term development of the faster B35.

While B28 prototypes are expected to enter trials in 2027, the proposed B35 aims to take India's indigenous high-speed train technology to a design speed of 350 kmph by 2030.

If the programme progresses as planned, India could have a domestic high-speed train manufacturing ecosystem capable of supporting multiple bullet train corridors in the coming years.

Inputs from TOI