India may get newer, faster bullet train at the same time as Japan -

India and Japan may see the simultaneous launch of the latest version of the bullet train, Shinkansen Alfa-X, aka Shinkansen E10, in 2029-30, and Tokyo, India's partner in the ambitious bullet train project between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, is alright with India running two indigenously made high-speed trains on thetrack, which is expected to be ready in 2026-27, three people familiar with the matter said.

- Rajeev Jayaswal

India was previously expected to get the Shinkansen E5.

It was Prime Minister Narendra Modi's keen interest in the project and his excellent rapport with the Japanese leadership that saw a very positive outcome from two recent highlevel official visits to Japan led by railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in September and December 2024, the people added, requesting anonymity.

The E5's maximum speed is 320km/h, while the E10, which is still undergoing trials in Japan, can run at a top speed of 400km/hour.

"It is the first time that a developed nation has agreed to launch its latest product simultaneously in its own country as well as in a foreign land," one of the people said. Compared to E5, the new model is a state-of-theart machine, safer and faster, and the US and Taiwan are also eyeing this model, he added.