By AYATERU HOSOZAWA/ Staff Writer
August 30, 2025 at 18:16 JST
An illustration of the E10 series of bullet trains being developed by East Japan Railway Co. (Provided by JR East)
India’s decision to adopt the latest Shinkansen bullet train technology for its first high-speed railway reflects the strong ties between the two Asian powers that go back many years.
India will use the E10 series of bullet trains being developed by East Japan Railway Co.
JR East announced in March it was in the design stage of the E10 train. The company has provided technological support to India in response to government requests.
In 2016, Japan International Consultants for Transportation Co. (JIC), a member of the JR East group, won a contract from the Japan International Cooperation Agency to provide maintenance backup.
Constructing the high-speed transport network required close cooperation between JIC and local companies in India. From January, JIC took on 16 interns from the India high-speed railway company and enrolled them in a training program in Fukushima Prefecture to become bullet train conductors.
The E5 series of bullet trains is currently being used by JR East for its Tohoku Shinkansen service. The E10 will be the next-generation series.
While the E10 will have the same top speed as the E5 of about 320 kph, it will have greater brake control for emergency stops. Compared with the E5, the distance needed to come to a stop will be reduced by around 15 percent.
JR East is planning to begin commercial operations of the E10 series in Japan in fiscal 2030.
Development of the E10 has been supported by the Alfa-X test train, introduced in 2019 to allow for top speeds of 360 kph when the Hokkaido Shinkansen service is extended to Sapporo, the capital of the northernmost main island.
The Alfa-X is being tested to develop technology to begin automated train operations as well as commercialize aerobraking technology that takes advantage of air resistance.
India will become the second nation to use Japanese bullet train technology.
Taiwan imported technology developed by Central Japan Railway Co. for its high-speed rail service which went into operation in 2007.
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