Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: How India's Loco Pilots Are Training to meet Japan's safety and efficiency standards
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Loco Pilot Training: India's dream of high-speed rail is now very close to becoming a reality. A special team of 15 Indian railway professionals selected for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor is currently undergoing intensive training in Japan.
Recently, a video has gone viral on social media, showing an Indian loco pilot practicing Shinkansen train operations under the supervision of Japanese instructors.
Japanese railway discipline and safety culture
The viral video has drawn the most attention to the Indian loco pilot practicing the Japanese safety method, "Point-and-Call." This technique involves the driver physically pointing to various instruments during train operation and verbally confirming their status. This method is used in Japan to minimize human error and increase the driver's situational awareness. Indian pilots are absorbing this Japanese railway discipline and safety culture.
Pilots preparing to meet Japan's safety and efficiency standards
These 15 pilots were selected based on their previous experience in metro and conventional rail operations. This training program is being conducted in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and JR East. Its primary objective is to equip Indian pilots not only with technical competence but also to prepare them to meet Japan's world-renowned safety and efficiency standards. The pilots undergoing training have also shared their experiences of adapting to Japanese railway discipline.
Bullet train project enters its decisive phase
The construction of the bullet train project has now entered its decisive phase. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, the 508-kilometer project has achieved more than 56 percent physical progress as of November. The completion of the first mountain tunnel in Palghar is a major milestone in this direction.
Mumbai to Ahmedabad in just 1 hour and 58 minutes
The total estimated cost of this ambitious project is approximately Rs 1.08 lakh crore, of which more than Rs 85,338 crore has been spent so far. The bullet train will have a maximum speed of 320 km/h, allowing the distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to be covered in just 1 hour and 58 minutes. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that the country's first bullet train will begin its maiden run on August 15, 2027, on the 100-kilometer section between Surat and Vapi.