India’s first indigenous high-speed train is taking shape at BEML’s Aditya facility in Bengaluru, with the train designed for an operational capability of 249 kmph and intended for the 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor. BEML officials said the train is expected to undergo initial inspections and testing at the facility before examination on the mainline by the Commissioner of Railway Safety.
The train, identified as the B-28, will comprise eight coaches with a total length of 202 metres. Its planned passenger capacity is 557, with seven standard-class coaches using a 3×2 seating arrangement and one executive-class coach using a 2×2 layout. BEML engineers said the design will also allow two eight-coach sets to be combined into a 16-coach train in the future.
Work currently under way at the Bengaluru plant includes construction of the train’s nose section and coach frames. The remaining production stages will include rolling-stock interiors, electrical systems, seats, the propulsion system and wheel installation. Once assembly is completed, the train will be moved to the plant’s inspection track for initial running tests and other checks, according to information provided by BEML officials.
The train is being designed for a maximum test speed of 280 kmph, while its stated operating capability is 249 kmph. BEML said computational fluid dynamics is being used to refine the aerodynamic design of the nose and coaches. Roof-mounted HVAC panels and deflectors are also being integrated to reduce air resistance and noise during operation.
Each end of the train will have a driver’s cab equipped with an Intelligent Onboard Control System. The system is intended to coordinate with the train operations control centre and support faster operational decisions. The train will also feature regenerative braking, which converts some of the energy generated during deceleration into electricity for reuse.
Passenger information will be displayed on LCD screens in English, Hindi and regional languages. Public-address and automated announcement systems will provide audio guidance, while emergency talk-back units in passenger cabins and vestibules will allow passengers to communicate with railway staff during emergencies.
BEML said the design includes accessibility features such as a level floor at the platform interface, retractable steps, wheelchair-friendly doors, reserved seating and accessible toilets. Braille panels are planned for visually impaired passengers. Each coach will have two HVAC units to regulate temperature and humidity, along with sound insulation and noise-absorbing layers intended to reduce external noise inside the train.
The project also acquires significance for Karnataka after Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reportedly announced plans for a future bullet train service between Bengaluru and Pune during a recent visit. However, the train currently being developed at BEML is intended for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor. The next formal milestones for the Bengaluru-built train are completion of assembly, plant-level testing and subsequent safety inspection on the mainline.
