Indian Railways Is Changing Faster Than Ever
Golden India
2 min read
Indian Railways is undergoing its biggest transformation in years, with new trains, India’s first bullet train, enhanced safety technology, and upgraded stations all coming online at the same time. Here are the four biggest changes for passengers.
- Indian Railways Gets Sleeper Vande Bharat Trains
Until now, Vande Bharat trains were developed for daytime travel. That is about to change. India flagged off its first Vande Bharat sleeper on January 17 from Howrah to Guwahati. A larger version is already in the works: 24 coaches and 1,224 berths are being built at ICF Chennai, with a prototype due in December 2026.
Budget travellers are also seeing an increase in options. Thirteen new Amrit Bharat Express trains were added for non-AC passengers in 2025, taking the total to 30.
- India’s First Bullet Train Is on the Way
The Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed corridor is about 80 per cent complete, according to the Railway Minister in July 2026. The first section, from Surat to Bilimora, is due to open on August 15, 2027, with other sections opening up in stages. Earlier statements said that the entire Mumbai–Ahmedabad route should be completed by 2029.
India News | Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project 80 Percent Complete, First Section to Open in 2027: Ashwini Vaishnaw
- Kavach Makes Travel Safer
Kavach is India’s home-built system that automatically brakes the train that is about to run a red signal or go over speed. Version 4.0 was commissioned on 2,633 route km as of July 31, 2026, mainly on the Delhi–Mumbai and Delhi–Howrah corridors. Work is also underway to fit it to thousands more locomotives. The network is large, so it will take several years before the system covers the whole country.
- Stations Are Getting a New Look
Under the Amrit Bharat Station scheme, 155 stations had been fully modernised as of December 2025, with another 1,182 in progress. The ministry also states that free Wi-Fi is available at 6,117 stations.
What This Means for You
If you travel by train, you can expect faster and more comfortable options on major routes over the next few years, and safer journeys as Kavach rolls out. With such large projects, there is often a tendency for delays, so take the above dates with a grain of salt. We will update this page as sections of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad route open.
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