Archive · 18 Jul 2026
India, Japan clash over bullet train project claims
A former Japanese minister said India was not keeping promises and was being reckless in the bullet train project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
India said this is not true and that the project is going well.
India is making its own bullet trains and will start running a part of the train line in 2027.
Japan will provide trains later, in the early 2030s.
Both countries are using different signaling systems for the trains.
Former Japanese minister Hideki Makihara accused India of 'sheer recklessness' in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.
India's MEA rejected the claims, stating discussions are progressing well and the first section will open in 2027.
India is developing its own bullet trains (B28) and will use the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 for signaling.
Japan's E10 series trains are expected to be provided in the early 2030s.
The first 50-km section (Surat-Bilimora) of the 508-km project will be operational by August 2027.
- Who
- India and Japan
- What
- Dispute over the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project
- When
- Recent, with historical context
- Where
- India (Mumbai-Ahmedabad route)
- Why
- Allegations of recklessness and project delays
- Project Name
- Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR)
- Project Length
- 508 km
- First Section
- Surat-Bilimora (50 km)
- Operational Date
- August 2027
- Train Speed
- 280 kmph (design), 250 kmph (initial)
- Signaling System
- European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2
- Japanese Trains
- E10 series, expected in early 2030s
