Indian Railways To Launch 1000 New Trains In Five Years Bullet Train By 2027 Says Ashwini Vaishnaw
Indian Railways is set for a major upgrade, with plans to roll out 1,000 new trains over the next five years and commence commercial operations of the country’s first bullet train by 2027. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw outlined the ambitious roadmap during a media interaction, highlighting how the government aims to revolutionise both passenger and freight transport while positioning India as a global rail manufacturing hub.
The expansion strategy is backed by substantial infrastructure investment and domestic manufacturing. Over the past 11 years, India has added 35,000 km of new railway tracks—equivalent to the total rail network of Germany. Just last year, 5,300 km of track were laid. To support this scale of growth, Indian factories are now producing 30,000 wagons and 1,500 locomotives annually—exceeding the combined output of North America and Europe.
Public investment in Indian Railways has surged from ₹25,000 crore to ₹2.52 lakh crore, with an additional ₹20,000 crore brought in through public-private partnerships. Vaishnaw emphasized the push toward boosting freight movement by rail, which currently handles 29% of the country’s cargo. The goal is to increase that to 35% in the near term, making logistics not just cheaper but significantly more eco-friendly.
The high-profile bullet train project, developed with Japanese collaboration, is progressing on schedule. A prototype is expected by 2026, with commercial service beginning in 2027. Institutions like IIT Madras and IIT Roorkee are contributing to R&D, while many of the train’s components are already being manufactured in India and exported globally.
For passengers, the government is enhancing comfort and affordability. More than 2,000 general coaches have been added in the past two years, and new services like Amrit Bharat and Namo Bharat have been introduced. Indian train fares remain among the lowest in South Asia, even undercutting those of Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Safety has significantly improved, with derailments dropping from 170 a year to fewer than 30, and an overall 80% reduction in rail accidents. The minister also reaffirmed that Indian Railways will not be privatised, but will follow models like Japan and Switzerland—focused on professional management and public integration.
