7,000 kms of bullet train corridor by 2047: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, speaking at the inaugural session of the CII International Rail Conference 2025 and the 16th edition of the CII International Railway Equipment Exhibition at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, today, said that by 2047, India aims to construct 7,000 kilometres of high-speed passenger corridors with trains running at speeds up to 350 km/h.

Highlighting India’s rapid strides in modernisation, the Minister said India has achieved an unprecedented scale of development over the past decade. "Over 35,000 km of railway tracks built, more than 46,000 km electrified, 7,000 coaches produced annually, exceeding production in many continents."

Additionally, 156 Vande Bharat services and 30 Amrit Bharat trains are operational, including four Namo Bharat services, while Indian-made rolling stock and electrical equipment are being exported to Africa and Europe. In FY 2024-25, Indian Railways produced a record 1,681 locomotives, surpassing the combined production of Europe, North and South America, Africa, and Australia. With 24,000 trains running daily, the Minister emphasised the need for further capacity expansion through conventional track upgrades and dedicated passenger corridors. A total capital expenditure of ₹2,65,200 crore has been earmarked for rapid modernisation.

The Minister stressed that Indian Railways’ modernisation is not just about infrastructure, but about enhancing passenger experience. Every journey is envisioned to be safer, faster, and more comfortable. With rollout of Kavach 4.0 and development of Kavach 5.0 for high-speed trains, introduction of new train designs, and record investments, Indian Railways is building one of the world’s most modern networks. He also stated that development of next-generation Amrit Bharat locomotives and coaches (Amrit Bharat 4.0), will be with a 36-month rollout target.

The 16th Indian Railways Equipment Exhibition (IREE), organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in association with the Ministry of Railways, is Asia’s largest and the world’s second-largest exhibition for the railway and transportation sector. The three-day exhibition (15–17 October 2025) concurrent to the conference brought together over 450 exhibitors from more than 15 countries, showcasing the latest in rolling stock, signalling systems, urban mobility, passenger amenities, infrastructure, interiors, and green mobility technologies and more.