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The contract for this signalling system will run for seven years, and it’s expected that the ETCS-2 system will be ready by 2027 to support Vande Bharat’s commercial operations.
The ministry plans to begin commercial operations of Vande Bharat trains by 2027. (Image for representation: PTI/File)
India’s high-speed Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor faces further delays, with the railway ministry now focusing on procuring a signalling system for Vande Bharat trains, which will run at speeds of up to 280 km/h, as per TOI.
Originally expected to debut Shinkansen bullet trains by 2026 on the Surat-Bilimora section, the plan now faces a delay, and these specialised Japanese trains may not arrive until 2030, with full operations on the corridor only expected by 2033.
In the meantime, the National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHRSCL) has published a tender for the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level-2, which will allow Vande Bharat trains to operate on the corridor.
This signalling system differs from the Japanese DS-ATC used for Shinkansen. The contract for the ETCS-2 system will last seven years, with Vande Bharat trains set to begin service on the track by 2027.
Sources suggest that while the corridor’s infrastructure will be in use, the Japanese signalling system can still be installed even after Vande Bharat trains are operational.
The timeline for the introduction of the new E-10 series Shinkansen trains will be decided once trains are adapted to Indian conditions. Once the Shinkansen trains are fully operational, the advanced Vande Bharat trains and signalling system will be repurposed for other projects.
