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Japan will give India two high-speed Shinkansen train sets free of charge to support testing and inspection of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project currently being constructed. The program, confirmed by Japanese officials and covered by The Japan Times, is designed to allow data collection and accelerate the development of domestic high-speed rail technology.
According to sources familiar with the plan, one train each from the E5 and E3 series of East Japan Railway’s Shinkansen fleet will be delivered by early 2026. These train sets, known for their streamlined design, cutting-edge safety features and stability at high speeds, will be specially equipped with inspection instruments. They will assess environmental factors such as heat and dust that are critical for rail operations in Indian conditions.
The bullet train line, spanning approximately 500 kilometres between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, is being developed under India’s maiden high-speed rail project, with a targeted partial launch in August 2027. Japan and India are also considering the introduction of next-generation E10 series trains by the early 2030s. However, their deployment may not align with the corridor’s initial operations.
“To resolve delays and cost concerns, Japan proposed the free supply of E5 and E3 train sets last year, a move accepted by India,” stated The Japan Times. The E5 series, originally planned for the project, boasts top speeds of 320 kmph, while the E3 is an earlier model. Talks on the E10 series continue, with a long-term view to manufacture them within India.
The project is largely funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is providing a low-interest yen loan covering around 80 per cent of the total cost. Initially pegged at 1.8 trillion yen, the cost is now expected to rise. The two governments are working to formulate an extended loan framework to accommodate E10 procurement, especially in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Japan for a bilateral summit.
The current financing arrangement includes a 50-year repayment period at an ultra-low 0.1 per cent interest rate, making it one of the most concessional infrastructure loans offered by any country to India.
The bullet train project, run by the National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL), delayed because of land acquisition issues and a pandemic, is now experiencing some forward momentum with the gifting of trains and momentum building in bilateral rail cooperation that constitutes the first phase of India's aim to establish high speed rail in the subcontinent.
