The map above looks at India’s first bullet speed line, the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor compared to the UK’s second high-speed line very aptly named High Speed 2 (or HS2 for short).
Here’s how they stack up:
| Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train | UK High Speed 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Distance: | 508.18 km (315.77 mi) | 230 km (140 mi) |
| Number of Stations: | 12 | 4 |
| Start Date: | February 2021 | 2017 |
| Estimated Completion Date: | End of 2027 | 2029 to 2033 |
| Original Budget: | 1.1 Trillion Rupees ($13 billion USD; £9.8 billion) | £17.4 billion ($23 Billion USD; 1.97 Trillion Rupees) |
| Latest Budget Estimate: | 2.0 Trillion Rupees ($23.4 Billion USD; £17.7 Billion GBP) | £66 billion ($87.6 Billion USD; 7.5 Trillion Rupees) |
| Cost Per KM of Track: | 4 Billion Rupees ($46 million; £35 million) | £287 million ($381 million USD; 32 billion rupees) |
Now I’m a huge fan of high-speed rail, but it’s a bit baffing how expensive HS2 has gotten considering that the UK invented modern trains and it’s the second line they’re building.
Japan has invested heavily in India’s system, which given their expertise in domestic high-speed rail projects has probably helped.
Here’s a more detailed map of the Indian system below:
Also see: California High-Speed Rail Progress After 10 Years: Green Sections Are Open For Passengers
You can read more about both projects from the sources below:
- Map high-speed line Mumbai–Ahmedabad
- High Speed 2 map
- High Speed 2 on Wikipedia
- Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor on Wikipedia
- HS2: update following the Northern leg cancellation
- Delayed deadlines, inflated costs of the bullet train makes it a costly liability, alleges Opposition
Which system do you think will open first?
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