2-year rollout time frame for Siliguri-Delhi bullet train

Kolkata: When Bengal gets its first bullet train, it will soon be on a development highway along with Gujarat and Maharashtra, which are the only Indian states with a bullet-train corridor. Work in both states is currently under advanced construction. Preliminary work in Bengal — survey, feasibility study, detailed project report — should begin in the next few months so that the first bullet train can roll out in the state within the next two years, sources said.

The bullet train is part of an ambitious rail infrastructure expansion announced by Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw at his meeting with state CM Suvendu Adhikari at Nabanna on Saturday. The high-speed lines will connect the state to major hubs in northern India, cutting travel time by 15-16 hours.

The Delhi-Siliguri high-speed corridor will pass through Lucknow, Varanasi and Patna. It is designed to reduce the travel time between the Capital and north Bengal from nearly 20 hours to just six. “These high-speed corridors will connect Siliguri with New Delhi in six hours,” Vaishnaw said on Saturday.

The Varanasi-Siliguri corridor, another dedicated high-speed line, will pass via Patna, with eventual extension plans to run all the way to Guwahati in Assam. “These projects are aimed at boosting economy, tourism and overall connectivity across north Bengal and the Northeast, serving as a critical and strategic link for the Chicken’s Neck on the Siliguri Corridor,” a state official said. “We expect survey and other preliminary work for high-speed trains within the next few months.”

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor is India’s flagship bullet train project, spanning 508 km. It links two states and routes through the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. As part of the Union Budget, several Indian states are officially mapped out to receive bullet trains across major regional corridors.

India’s upcoming bullet trains, modelled on Japan’s Shinkansen E5 Series technology, are highly advanced electric multiple-unit train sets. They are customised to deliver unparalleled speed, safety and passenger luxury while handling India’s intense climate. These trains are designed to run at an operational speed of 320 kmph, cutting down travel times significantly. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad down train is likely to take only two hours.

The trains’ features include a sharply elongated, bird-like nose design that minimises air resistance and eliminates the “tunnel-boom” noise caused by sonic effects when entering tunnels. The train is designed to utilise a concrete slab track system wrapped with advanced resilient fasteners, providing maximum stability at extreme speeds.

Customised for India, the trains will be upgraded with modified cooling and electrical systems, capable of seamlessly running in ambient temperatures soaring up to 50°C. They will be equipped with unique, heavy-duty air filtration units to keep fine dust and high ambient humidity out of the mechanical chambers and passenger cabins.

The bullet train employs an intelligent air-cushion suspension system that dynamically counters track curves, ensuring a smooth, vibration-free ride.