National High Speed Rail Transport Corporation has invited bids from Japanese companies for the supply of 24 E5 series Shinkansen trainsets for the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project, according to a Times of India report.

The government expects the country’s first bullet train project, being implemented by Indian Railways with Japanese assistance, to become operational by 2027. Air-conditioned bullet trains are expected to operate in the Ahmedabad-Mumbai corridor at speeds of 320 km per hour enabling commuters to traverse the 534 km distance in two hours. Currently, the fastest train operating on this sector is the Ahmedabad Duronto Express, which takes 6.25 hours to reach Mumbai Central from Ahmedabad running non-stop between these two cities at a maximum speed of 130 km/h,

Since Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is financing the project through a low-cost long-term loan the trainsets have to bought from Japanese companies.

Hitachi, Japan Transport Engineering Company (J-TREC), Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing Co, Kinki Sharyo, and Nippon Sharyo are the five companies which manufacture the Shinkansen rolling stock used to run bullet trains.

Each Shinkansen trainset is likely to have 10 coaches that can accommodate 690 passengers and the rolling stock will be modified to take into account the hot weather and dusty conditions in India, the ToI report said.