First Bullet train trial to begin near Surat in 2026

The first trial run of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project, a key initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is set to take place in 2026, according to Pramod Sharma, Director (Works) at the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL). The trial will cover the Surat to Bilimora section in South Gujarat. The 508km high-speed rail corridor between Ahmedabad and Mumbai has 92% of its alignment constructed as an elevated track. Out of the 12 stations along the route, eight are in Gujarat, including Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora, and Vapi, while the remaining four are in Maharashtra. Sharma noted that 212km of the 352km stretch in Gujarat has had its viaduct completed, and the foundation work for all eight Gujarat stations is also finished. The Surat-Bilimora stretch, approximately 50km in length, is being prioritised, with construction at both Surat and Bilimora progressing rapidly. Trial runs are expected to commence in 2026. Sharma also provided an update on the project in Vadodara, where the 8km C-5 package is expected to be completed by December 2025, though efforts are being made to finish ahead of schedule. The design of the bullet train station in Vadodara is inspired by the banyan tree, reflecting the city's abundance of these trees. The station is being built above platform seven of Vadodara railway station, covering an area of 16,467 sq m near Pandya Bridge. Land has been acquired to integrate the bullet train station seamlessly with the city's transport infrastructure, connecting it to the Vadodara railway station, local city routes, and state bus depots. The elevated corridor will cross five railway overbridges (ROBs) and three railway underbridges (RUBs), with work on three flyovers already completed and the remaining two set to finish soon.

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