India's first indigenous bullet train clears safety squeeze test in Bengaluru
The B28 trainset is being manufactured at BEML's facility for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor.
India's first indigenously developed high-speed train, the B28, has undergone a vehicle body shell assessment, known as a squeeze test, at the BEML manufacturing facility in Bengaluru, according to The Times of India.
The test evaluates if the outer structure can withstand intense pressure and external forces during a collision without losing structural integrity. An official told the outlet that the prototype should ideally be ready in less than six months following the successful completion of this test.
The eight-coach trainset is designed for a maximum testing speed of 280 kmph and an operational speed of 249 kmph. It has a total length of approximately 202 metres and can carry around 557 passengers, including dedicated space for two persons with reduced mobility.
The configuration includes seven standard-class coaches with 3x2 seating and one executive-class coach with 2x2 seating. Two such eight-car trainsets can be coupled to create a 16-car train in the future.
Passenger amenities include Wi-Fi-based infotainment, LCD screens displaying information in English, Hindi, and regional languages, and emergency talk-back units. The train also features bio-digester toilets and a dual-unit HVAC system in each coach.
Indian Railways aims to begin trial runs on the 100-km Surat-Vapi section of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai High Speed Rail corridor by May-June 2027. Commercial services on that section are expected to start in August 2027.