Vaishnaw Inspects B28 Train as Ministry Targets 2027 Service

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw inspected production and testing of India’s B28 high-speed train at BEML’s Bengaluru facility on November 1, 2026, as the Ministry of Railways outlined a conditional target to begin service on part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor in August 2027. The ministry’s target is for B28 trains to operate first on the 97-kilometer Surat-Vapi section. The start depends on completing corridor infrastructure, including civil structures, track, electrical systems, signaling and telecommunications, as well as delivery of the trainsets. The target is a projection, not confirmation that the line or trains will be ready by then. During the inspection, Vaishnaw witnessed a squeeze test on a train carbody, in which controlled compressive and tensile forces are applied to assess structural strength and rigidity. A ministry video showed the test underway. He also reviewed manufacturing and assembly work at BEML’s facility, including carbody modules and onboard components. B28 is an eight-coach train designed for a maximum test speed of 280 kilometers per hour and a planned operational speed of 249 km/h. BEML is responsible for the design, manufacture and...