India and Japan finalise design adjustments for Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train

The design changes are expected to be “formally approved soon”.

The redesigning will allow these high speed trains in India to have better load bearing capacities - that include larger luggage carrying capacities, Indian genetics which are more muscular than other leaner Asian physiques; ability to operate at extreme temperatures in the country for instance of heat up to 50 degree Celsius or more; and dustier conditions than Japan. “Some seating arrangement reconfiguration could also happen, maybe two seats lesser than actual ones operating there,” the official aware said

India’s ₹1,08,000 crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR) project - approved by the Cabinet in December 2015 - is a joint venture of the Union government, and Gujarat and Maharashtra state governments. It is being executed through a special purpose vehicle (SPV), National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL). The Union holds 50 per cent in the SPV with Gujarat and Maharashtra state governments holding 25 per cent stake each.

Approximately 81 per cent of the cost of project is being funded through a soft loan by the Government of Japan via Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).  The JICA loan to MAHSR is for a tenure of 50 years at 0.1 per cent interest rate and with a moratorium of 15 years. Thus, the loan repayment will be done in 35 years, according to NHSRCL sources.  

Apart from terminal stations - BKC and Sabarmati - the high speed train will cover over 500 km distance in two hours and seven minutes at a speed of around 300 km. Other stations include Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara and Anand. A second official in the know said, regime changes in Japan led to “some time” in taking up “bullet train redesign discussions”.   “Yes we sought design changes in the Bullet Train project to suit it as per conditions in India. Changes have been cleared. Formal approvals are expected in the coming weeks,” this second official added

Discussions have also taken  place to keep cost rise - because of redesign and other factors - to “minimum”.  

Two Japanese companies, Kawasaki and Hitachi - through a consortium- is working towards development, manufacture, and supply of high speed trains along this corridor.  As per initial JICA loan agreement conditions, the bullet train - at least one batch - has to be sourced from Japanese-makers.

India is also on course to develop indigenous high-speed trains, to be built on the existing Vande Bharat platform. The Railway Board has asked Integral Coach Factory (ICF) to manufacture a bullet train that can have a top speed of around 250-280 kmph.

The railway production unit has roped-in BEML to make these trains for ₹866.87 crore. The total contract value includes design cost, one-time development cost, non-recurring charges, onetime cost towards fixtures, tooling and testing facilities.