On Day 2 of his visit to Japan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is taking a ride on Japan’s famous bullet trains with his Japanese counterpart, Shigeru Ishiba. Ahead of the journey, PM Modi also met with Indian train drivers who are currently undergoing training in Japan.
Notably, one of the key sectors on the agenda is the long-awaited Shinkansen bullet train project, which will be the first of its kind in India, according to reports.
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In December 2015, New Delhi and Tokyo signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build India’s first high-speed rail corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad using Japan’s Shinkansen technology.
Before leaving for Japan, PM Modi said the visit would be an opportunity to deepen civilisational links and cultural relations between the two countries.
In this explainer, we look at what the bullet trains are, how they work and other important details.
Let’s take a look:
All you need to know about the bullet trains
The project is a high-speed rail system, like those already running in countries such as France, which India had first considered as a partner.
Other nations that operate similar services include China, South Korea, Turkey, Spain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium.
A bullet train must travel at speeds of over 250 kilometres per hour and run on dedicated tracks.
The design of the E10 series is inspired by Japan’s famous cherry blossom, or sakura, and it comes with a major safety feature: the trains are earthquake-proof.
The E10 uses ‘L-shaped vehicle guides’ to stop the train from derailing during earthquakes. It also has lateral dampers that reduce vibrations, limit damage and add an extra layer of safety against derailments.
JR East announced the E10 series, the next-gen Tohoku Shinkansen, set to replace the E2/E5. Design is underway, with first units arriving after autumn 2027 and commercial operations starting in 2030.
Key Features of the E10 Series:
•Safety Enhancements: The E10 series… pic.twitter.com/tAzBdHhUBq
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Compared to the older E5 series, the trains planned for India will have more luggage space, special window seats for wheelchair users and a new seating layout that can be changed depending on whether more passenger or cargo space is needed.
Developed by the East Japan Railway Company, the E10 can reach a top speed of 320 kilometres per hour, the same as the E5. However, the E10’s speed is electronically restricted.
Another major improvement is its braking system, which shortens stopping distance by 15 per cent. This means the E10 can halt from maximum speed in under 3.4 kilometres, while the E5 needs four kilometres, NDTV reported.
This feature is especially important for India, where train routes pass through crowded and earthquake-prone areas.
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The E10 also comes with upgraded engines that are more efficient and could eventually support fully automated operations.
The E10 will gradually replace the E5 and E2 models in Japan and is set to enter service there by 2030. Till then, Japan has offered India temporary sets, including one E5 and one E3.
India’s bullet trains will feature bigger seats than the E5, a premium business class with leather recliners, fold-out desks and onboard Wi-Fi, the report said.
The trains will be painted in shades of green.
The India-Japan deal
India and Japan may work together to manufacture the next-generation E10 Shinkansen bullet trains in India, Hindustan Times reported, quoting sources.
The E10 Shinkansen project is likely to be part of a new transport and mobility partnership between the two countries.
PM Modi and Ishiba are also expected to visit the Tohoku Shinkansen plant in Sendai to see the production of bullet train coaches.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project was launched in September 2017, when PM Modi and then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe laid the foundation stone in Sabarmati, Gujarat.
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In December 2015, India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop the country’s first high-speed rail corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
At first, it was planned that the E5 series bullet trains currently running in Japan would be sent to India for this route.
In December 2015, New Delhi and Tokyo signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build India’s first high-speed rail corridor. Image: Embassy of Japan in India
However, after Japan announced plans to introduce the E10 series by 2030, Tokyo offered New Delhi the new model instead, Deccan Herald reported.
“The newest Japanese trains will run on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed corridor,” an official told The Economic Times.
India’s first bullet train project is expected to start commercial services in 2027, with the prototype likely to begin trial runs in 2026.
The 508-kilometre route, which covers 352 kilometres in Gujarat and 156 kilometres in Maharashtra, is being built with Japanese Shinkansen technology.
With inputs from agencies
AloJapan.com