India’s railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that the country’s first high-speed bullet train service will begin operations on 15 August 2027. The initial service will run on the Ahmedabad–Mumbai high-speed corridor, with passenger trains operating first between Surat and Bilimora in Gujarat.
The project will be rolled out in five phases. The first phase, confirmed for mid-August 2027, will see bullet trains running between Surat and Bilimora. The second phase will extend services from Surat to Vapi. Subsequent phases will progressively open the line northwards from Surat to Ahmedabad, then southwards into Maharashtra towards Thane, and finally complete the full Ahmedabad to Mumbai link.
Ahmedabad Mumbai bullet train route and travel times
The full Ahmedabad–Mumbai corridor will span 508 kilometres. According to National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited data, 348 kilometres of the route lie within Gujarat, 156 kilometres lie within Maharashtra, and around 4 kilometres pass through Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
Once the corridor is fully operational, trains will reach a maximum speed of 320 kilometres per hour. The projected end-to-end journey time across the 508-kilometre route is approximately 2 hours and 7 minutes, a dramatic reduction from current rail travel times between the two cities.
The corridor will include 12 stations. The northern terminus will be near Sabarmati in Gujarat, followed by Ahmedabad. Other Gujarat stations on the route include Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora and Vapi. In Maharashtra, planned stops include Boisar, Virar, Thane and the southern terminus at Mumbai.
Transport officials say the phased opening is intended to bring early benefits to passengers in Gujarat while construction continues on remaining sections. The first phase focusing on Surat to Bilimora is expected to provide a testbed for operations and passenger services ahead of wider roll-out.
Officials have cautioned that the entire project will take additional years to complete beyond the initial 2027 launch. Complex construction, land acquisition, testing and safety certification are among the factors that influence the timeline for the remaining phases.
Beyond travel times, the corridor is being touted for its wider economic benefits. Faster connections between Ahmedabad and Mumbai aim to strengthen business links, reduce travel costs for commuters, and support regional development along the route. The high-speed project is likely to attract investment in related infrastructure near stations and improve multimodal connectivity.
Technical and operational details will continue to emerge as tests progress and stations are prepared for passengers. For now, the announcement gives commuters and planners a clear target date for the first bullet train service in India and underlines the country’s push to modernise its rail network.
Key Takeaways:
- Ahmedabad Mumbai bullet train project to begin passenger service on 15 August 2027 between Surat and Bilimora.
- The project will open in five phases, eventually linking Ahmedabad to Mumbai over 508 kilometres with 12 stations.
- Trains will run at up to 320 km/h, completing the full route in about 2 hours 7 minutes once finished.
- Major portions of the route lie in Gujarat, with later phases extending services through Maharashtra and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.
