India’s first bullet train project has crossed a significant milestone with the successful breakthrough of a mountain tunnel in Palghar district, Maharashtra, marking steady progress on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor.
The Ministry of Railways has announced plans to operate bullet train services at 15 to 20-minute intervals during peak hours in the initial phase of operations. The announcement was made by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw while addressing reporters at Rail Bhawan on Friday (January 2, 2026).
Bullet Train: Frequency to Increase Based on Passenger Demand
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that the frequency of services will be enhanced in later stages, depending on passenger demand. According to the plan, bullet trains may eventually operate every 10 minutes during peak periods, introducing a new era of high-frequency, high-speed rail travel in India.
“When the MAHSR corridor becomes fully operational, services will run every 15–20 minutes during peak hours. There is also planning to reduce the interval to 10 minutes based on traffic demand. This will mark the beginning of a new transport system in the country,” Vaishnaw said.
Transforming Daily Intercity Travel
Highlighting the project’s potential impact, the Railway Minister explained how the bullet train will transform daily commuting between major cities.
“Suppose you board the bullet train from Surat in the morning after breakfast, travel to Mumbai for work, and return to Surat in the evening. This kind of seamless connectivity will become possible,” he added.
The MAHSR corridor is expected to significantly reduce travel time, boost regional economic integration, and offer a reliable alternative to road and air travel.
Employment Generation and Economic Impact
Vaishnaw also emphasized the employment benefits generated by the ambitious infrastructure project. He noted that around one lakh people have benefited directly or indirectly through jobs created during the construction phase of the bullet train corridor.
The Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train project is seen as a flagship initiative aimed at modernizing India’s transport infrastructure and setting new benchmarks in speed, safety, and efficiency.
