India’s Bullet Train Project – Shinkansen E5, E3 train set to be gifted by Japan

India’s Bullet Train Testing has begun with a huge help of Japan’s Shinkansen E5, E3 train sets lend for free of cost, Japan Times reports. The Bullet Train testing for speed testing corridor from Mumbai – Ahmedabad High is planned to be delivered to India in the early 2026. 

The original E10 series that was supposed to be introduced in the early 2030s is also planned to have testing at the Mumbai – Ahmedabad High speed rail. India is planning for a partial opening in 2027 by which the E10 train sets will not be ready. In place of the E10 trains, Japan is now sending E5 and E3 trains which will pull through important data like the Operational data and other climate related data such as high temperature and dust control. 

Japan’s E10 trains are next gen technology based and need to be fine tuned before being adapted by the countries for bullet train transportation. With the testing of E5 and E3 train sets, the data collection could be crucial in adding and fine tuning the E10 train sets, which will later be adapted by Japan and India. 

Both the E5 and E3 are built by East Japan Railway (JR East) with the E5 train used in service from 2011. E5 train sets are built at a top speed of 320 kmph and were initially selected by India’s Bullet Train. E3 is a much older train in service that has been used for Mini Shinkansen (Bullet Train) service. 

India and Japan have chosen these two train sets for their transportation because of their sleek aerodynamics designs, advanced safety systems and smooth ride quality. India faced many financial issues for getting the E5 trains and now Japan’s help in testing these trains comes as a great help in setting the project in action.