bullet train

bullet train corridor planned for Uttar Pradesh, says railway minister

Kajal Pisal has bid farewell to her role in 'Laxmi Niwas', attributing her exit to a collaborative decision with the show's producers over her character's stagnant development. To rejuvenate her spirit, she set off to Japan, immersing herself in its dynamic cities, tranquil temples, and exquisite gastronomy.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw unveiled a roadmap for southern India's transportation, highlighting a proposed bullet train network connecting key cities like Amaravati, Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai. This initiative aims to foster economic integration by drastically reducing travel times.

Trains, globally recognized for their safety, surprisingly lack seat belts. Experts explain this is due to their controlled environment, fixed tracks, and gradual deceleration. Unlike cars and planes, trains' design, including energy-absorbing interiors, makes seat belts potentially hazardous. Even high-speed trains like Japan's Shinkansen operate without them, prioritizing passenger mobility and safety through other means.

India's first indigenous high-speed train, the B-28 trainset, is slated for rollout by April 2027 on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route. A dedicated manufacturing facility, 'Aditya', has been inaugurated in Bengaluru. This marks a significant technological leap, with plans for further expansion including the Bengaluru-Chennai corridor, aiming to drastically cut travel times and build a self-reliant high-speed rail ecosystem.

Over 250 new Vande Bharat sleeper trains are in the pipeline for rollout over the next few years - all with the aim to revamp long-distance rail travel and offer a world-class service experience to passengers.

Train coach colours serve as a visual language, differentiating train types, categories, and service levels for travellers. Blue signifies standard trains, red indicates safer LHB coaches, green denotes budget options, and white points to semi-high-speed services. These colours also reflect the evolution of railway technology.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a new Vande Bharat Express connecting Bengaluru, Mangaluru, and Madgaon (Goa). This scenic route, previously challenging due to Western Ghats gradients, will soon offer faster travel. The service, operated by South Western Railway, aims to boost tourism by linking three popular destinations.

Japan issued a special advisory warning of a heightened risk of a "huge" earthquake following a powerful 7.5 magnitude tremor off its northern coast. The quake triggered tsunami alerts and evacuations, though no major damage or injuries were reported. Officials stressed preparedness while urging residents to continue daily life.

China is advancing plans for a massive 120-kilometer undersea rail tunnel connecting Dalian and Yantai across the Bohai Strait. This ambitious project aims to revolutionize northern China's connectivity, offering a swift 40-minute journey for passengers and cargo, bypassing current weather-dependent ferry services and lengthy land routes.

Japan's iconic bullet trains are now carrying cargo at speeds up to 275 kmph, marking a world first for dedicated freight Shinkansen. Repurposed passenger trains, stripped of seats, now transport high-value, time-sensitive goods like fresh produce and precision equipment. This innovative approach leverages existing high-speed rail infrastructure for faster, more efficient, and sustainable logistics.

India's first bullet train corridor, Mumbai-Ahmedabad, will soon feature an AI-driven system to detect track defects and component failures in real-time. Mounted on trains travelling at high speeds, sensors will identify potential issues before they escalate, automatically slowing trains if necessary and predicting maintenance needs weeks in advance to enhance safety and reduce costs.

Two Tunnel Boring Machines for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project have arrived, overcoming geopolitical delays. These machines will tackle the challenging 20.37-km underground stretch, including a 7-km subsea tunnel. This development signals progress for India's first high-speed rail corridor, designed for speeds up to 320 kmph.

Part of a condition-based monitoring (CBM) system, the technology also tracks the health of train components such as bearings, gearboxes, traction motors and doors in real time, predicting failures weeks in advance and enabling maintenance based on actual wear rather than fixed replacement schedules.