The Ministry of Railways announced on Monday that the next-generation Japanese bullet train—the E10 Shinkansen—will be launched simultaneously in both India and Japan. This announcement comes amid concerns over delays in finalising the procurement of the current E5 Shinkansen model, which is slated to operate on India’s flagship Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail (MAHSR) corridor.
“In the spirit of strategic partnership between Japan and India, the Japanese government has agreed to introduce E10 Shinkansen trains in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet train project,” the Indian Railways said in a statement.
The current Japanese Shinkansen system operates with E5 trains, with the E10 designated as the next-generation model. Officials stated that the entire 508-kilometre Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor is being developed using Japanese Shinkansen technology. The Ministry also noted that construction of 15 river bridges along the route has been completed, while work on four more is in the advanced stages.
“The Japanese Shinkansen system currently uses E5 trains. The upcoming generation is the E10. As a reflection of the strategic partnership between Japan and India, the Japanese government has agreed to deploy the E10 Shinkansen trains on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project. Significantly, the E10 will be introduced in both India and Japan at the same time,” the Ministry stated.
Reports suggest that until recently, there was growing speculation that the government might opt out of the expensive Shinkansen system of Japan in favour of locally manufactured high-speed trains. In a move supporting this possibility, the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) last year awarded a contract to BEML to develop two prototype trains capable of reaching speeds of up to 280 kmph. While the cost of the E10 Shinkansen — which is still under development — has not been disclosed, the BEML prototypes are estimated to cost INR 866.87 crore, with each coach priced at INR 27.86 crore.
The Ministry also highlighted a key milestone in the project: the completion of the first segment of the 21-kilometre undersea tunnel connecting Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Thane.
Shinkansen, often referred to as "bullet trains," form Japan’s iconic high-speed rail network, celebrated for its speed, safety, punctuality, and passenger comfort. These trains link major cities across the country, offering a fast and efficient means of travel over long distances. Operating at speeds of up to 320 km/h, the Shinkansen is among the fastest train systems in the world and provides a practical alternative to air travel for many domestic routes. The upcoming E10 series is a next-generation high-speed train being developed by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) for use on the Tōhoku Shinkansen.
The Shinkansen story began in 1964 with the launch of the Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka, coinciding with the Tokyo Olympics. Since then, the network has expanded across Japan, connecting key urban and regional centres with unmatched efficiency and reliability.
