No other bidder, BEML to make 1st high-speed train

New Delhi: State-owned BEML will manufacture the country's first indigenous high-speed train that can travel at a peak speed of 280 kmph. The two trains, each with eight coaches, are likely to be rolled out in the next two years. Since these will be designed for standard gauge tracks, sources said they can be run on Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train network, reports Dipak Dash.

BEML, in a statement to the bourses, said it has got the contract for designing, manufacturing and commissioning two high-speed trains at a contract value of Rs 867 crore. The order was placed by Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai.

Sources said the order was awarded to BEML "since it's a PSU and there was no other bidder".

ICF has placed at a time when the railways is holding negotiations with Japan on procurement of Shinkansen E5 series bullet trains.

BEML said each coach will be manufactured at Rs 27.9 crore, which is significantly lower than the price of each Shinkansen E5 coach, approximately Rs 46 crore. Govt has set a target of Aug-Sept 2026 to start trial run of Bullet trains on the Surat-Bilimora section in South Gujarat. At present, Vande Bharat trains run at a maximum design speed of 180 kmph and their next version will have the maximum running speed of 220 kmph.