In a significant development for India’s bullet train ambitions, Japan has decided to provide two of its Shinkansen trains to India free of cost. The E5 and E3 series train sets from East Japan Railway Company will be delivered by early 2026 and will be used as inspection vehicles on the country’s upcoming high-speed rail corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The move aims to support the project’s progress and ensure readiness for future deployment of the next-generation E10 series trains.
Support Amidst Delays and Rising Costs
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, based on Japan’s iconic Shinkansen technology, has seen repeated delays and cost escalations. Originally, India planned to use E5 trains for passenger operations. However, increasing concerns over cost overruns and late delivery timelines led India to consider using locally manufactured train cars for the initial phase. In a bid to break the negotiation deadlock and retain Japanese involvement, Tokyo proposed the introduction of the advanced E10 series trains in the early 2030s, and in the meantime, to donate one E5 and one E3 train for testing purposes.
These trains will be fitted with inspection equipment and used to collect data on factors like high temperatures, dust levels, and driving conditions, which will be vital for customizing the E10 trains to Indian conditions. The data gathered will also assist in evaluating the feasibility of producing E10 trains locally in India.
Strategic Importance and Financial Backing
The Japanese government views this project as a strategic export of its railway expertise and technology, similar to its support for Taiwan High Speed Rail two decades ago. Back then, Japan had provided a 0 series train free of cost to Taiwan as a test vehicle.
For the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor, around 80% of the project’s projected cost of 1.8 trillion yen will be financed through low-interest yen loans from Japan. As the costs are expected to rise further, both governments are now working on a new yen loan framework that would accommodate the E10 introduction. This plan is expected to be finalized during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s next visit to Japan for a bilateral summit.
India also plans to run semi-high-speed trains on the new line with modifications to increase their speed until the full Shinkansen service begins.
