Abe pitches for Shinkansen system for bullet trains in India

The Shinkansen bullet train system is world's first system for high speed trains running up to 320 kmph

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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed hope that India will adopt the Japan model for bullet trains for its upcoming Mumbai-Ahmadabad route. The Shinkansen bullet train system which literally means the 'new trunk line' is world's first system for high speed trains running up to 320 kilometer per hour.

Abe expressed readiness to provide financial, technical and operational support to introduce Shinkansen system. A joint feasibility study by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is underway for high speed train project for the Mumbai-Ahmadabad route. Key multilateral funding agencies like JICA, World Banka and French Rail operator SNCF have expressed interest to participate in the first high speed rail project of India. In the recent rail budget, Railway Minister Sadananda Gowda allocated Rs 100 crore for the high speed rail project.

Key senior Railway officials from the High Speed Rail Corporation have also accompanied Prime Minister Narendra Modi to his Japan visit. Railways had also conducted a pilot between Delhi-Agra for semi high-speed up to 160 kilometer per hour.

JICA is also funding key infrastructure projects like Western Dedicated Freight Corridor between Mumbai and Delhi and the Delhi Mumbai industrial corridor planned at the along the Western dedicated freight corridor and Chennai Bengaluru industrial corridor.