The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project has entered a crucial phase with the commencement of rail welding in Gujarat. This milestone brings the 508-kilometre high-speed route closer to its final stages, which will support trains running at speeds of up to 320 kilometres per hour.
The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) announced that rail welding began for the Gujarat segment of the project, with specialized 25-metre rails imported from Japan. These rails are connected using advanced fusion welding machines to create 200-metre panels. The project has already produced 298 panels, covering approximately 60 kilometres of track.
The welding process begins by grinding rail ends for surface preparation. Once the workers align the rails, they fuse them together using flash butt welding technology. They use magnetic particle and ultrasonic testing to ensure the welds are intact, replacing any flawed welds. After welding, they check the rail alignment with specialized Japanese equipment. The workers then lay the 200-metre panels along the route and secure them to the track slab with fasteners for final installation.
Currently, four construction bases are operating in Gujarat, with teams having completed 64 kilometres of reinforced concrete track bed and over 23,000 track slabs cast for the project. This project, primarily elevated at 90%, will connect 12 stations, including Mumbai, Thane, Surat, Vadodara, and Ahmedabad. Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex station will be the only underground station.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, delayed by land issues and the pandemic, aims for completion by 2028, reducing travel time.
