Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inaugurated the ‘Aditya’ complex at BEML’s Tippasandra Campus in Bengaluru on April 25, 2026. This new facility will focus on manufacturing the Atmanirbhar version B-28 bullet train. The project is a joint design effort between BEML and the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai to bring high-speed rail technology to India.
When will the indigenous bullet train start running
The first prototype of the Atmanirbhar high-speed bullet train is expected to be ready by next year. Full production of the Vande Bullet Train will likely begin in the latter part of 2027. The Ministry of Railways aims to complete the first B28 train by March 2027 and plans to start operations on the 97-km Surat to Vapi stretch by August 2027.
What are the updates on Vande Bharat and other routes
Apart from bullet trains, several new Vande Bharat services are planned. New trains will soon connect Bengaluru, Mangaluru, and Madgaon. Additionally, a superfast service and a Vande Bharat sleeper train will connect Bengaluru and Mumbai in the coming months. In Jammu and Kashmir, the Vande Bharat service between Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra and Srinagar will be extended to Jammu Tawi from April 30, 2026, with an increase to 20 coaches.
Will Delhi to Patna travel time reduce to 4 hours
The possibility of traveling from Delhi to Patna in four hours is linked to the proposed high-speed rail corridor between Varanasi and Siliguri. This would require a bullet train cruising at 350 km/h. Currently, this project is in the proposal stage with a Detailed Project Report expected by the end of 2026. For now, the Vande Bharat Sleeper Express on the New Delhi-Patna route is expected to reduce travel time to 11.5 hours.