Indias First Bullet Train Fare Revealed
Mumbai, October 25: The anticipation for India’s first bullet train is nearing an end, with the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR) expected to commence its first phase on August 15, 2027. Initially, the bullet train will operate on the Surat-Bilimora section, raising a crucial question among the public: what will be the fare for this superfast journey?
The Ministry of Railways and the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) are currently finalizing the ticket prices. Preliminary estimates suggest that the economy class fare for the 508 km journey from Mumbai to Ahmedabad may be around ₹3,000, while business class tickets could range between ₹4,000 and ₹4,500.
However, some reports have indicated that due to rising project costs, fares could escalate to between ₹6,000 and ₹7,000. Nevertheless, NHSRCL has clarified that efforts will be made to keep fares affordable for the middle class.
According to the Detailed Project Report (DPR), the bullet train fare may be approximately 1.5 times that of the first AC fare on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Duronto Express, which currently stands at around ₹3,300.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has previously stated that the fare will be structured to benefit common travelers, aiming for the bullet train journey to be more economical compared to flights and taxis, while also saving significant travel time.
Travel times on the 508 km Mumbai-Ahmedabad route will feature two types of services:
– Rapid Bullet Train: Completing the journey in approximately 1 hour 58 minutes to 2 hours 7 minutes.
– Regular Bullet Train: Stopping at all 12 stations, taking about 2 hours 58 minutes.
In comparison, current travel options take significantly longer:
– Vande Bharat/Superfast Train: 5.5 to 7 hours
– Car or Bus: 8 to 9 hours
– Flight: Approximately 1 hour, but including airport formalities, total travel time is around 4 to 5 hours.
The bullet train will have a maximum design speed of 350 km/h and an operational speed of 320 km/h.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor will be launched in phases, starting with the Surat-Bilimora section, followed by Vapi-Surat, Vapi-Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad-Thane, and finally Ahmedabad-Mumbai.
Passengers will have two service options:
– Rapid Bullet Train: Stops only at major stations like Surat and Vadodara.
– Regular Bullet Train: Stops at all 12 stations along the route.
Despite rising project costs, NHSRCL aims to develop a world-class high-speed rail network in India and lay the groundwork for future bullet train corridors, such as Delhi-Varanasi-Siliguri.
