INDIA: This concise weekly review presents a selection of Indian railway news published from July 25 to July 31, 2026: high-speed rail, passenger services, infrastructure and signalling.

Vande Bharat train standing at an electrified Indian railway station platform
A Vande Bharat train at Secunderabad Junction. Illustrative image for the weekly review; it does not depict a single current event. Photo: Radhika41 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0.

High-Speed Rail and New Train Technology

Bharat signalling protocol enters development

Indian Railways is developing the Bharat Train Control System as an open-source signalling protocol for future bullet-train corridors. The planned platform is intended to reduce dependence on foreign standards and support a programme described by officials as nearly 7,000 km of new routes. The Railway Supply report on Bharat Train Control System notes that no development or commissioning deadline has been announced, while corridor designs and alignments are expected to reach approval by mid-2027.

First 2×25 kV network takes shape on the bullet-train corridor

Electrification work on the 508 km Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor is moving ahead with India’s first 2×25 kV high-speed traction network. The Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train electrification update says 14 traction substations, 31 switching posts and around 1,125 track km of overhead equipment are planned to support trains operating at up to 320 km/h. Nearly 22,000 masts will carry the catenary, while earthquake detection will be linked to protective train stopping.

Hydrogen train passes its first 1,200-km milestone

India’s hydrogen train has passed 1,200 km of operation on the Jind–Sonipat section since its 17 July launch. According to the hydrogen train operating milestone, the Ministry of Railways reported more than 3,200 litres of avoided diesel use and said the next stage will extend testing to the Delhi area. The precise Delhi route and starting date remain undisclosed, so broader deployment is still a future phase.

Passenger Services and Urban Rail

Safety authorisation clears Pune’s first 12-station section

Pune Metro Line 3 has received provisional safety authorisation for the first 13 km and 12 stations between Maan and R.K. Laxman Museum. The Pune Metro safety approval allows passenger operations at up to 80 km/h under CBTC, but it does not itself set an opening date. Officials expect service in August after remaining formalities, while construction continues on the rest of the 23.203 km corridor.

Four train pairs broaden Jammu Division links

Indian Railways has confirmed four new train pairs for Jammu Division across the 2025–26 financial year, rather than four simultaneous July launches. The Jammu Division service expansion includes three Vande Bharat pairs and one conventional Katra–Budgam Express pair, adding direct links among Katra, Budgam, Amritsar, Jammu Tawi and Srinagar. Further additions remain subject to line capacity, rolling stock, infrastructure, maintenance and demand.

Mumbai Line 5 receives a six-station fare-system contract

Aurionpro Solutions has secured an approximately ₹50 crore automated fare collection order for all six Phase I stations on Mumbai Metro Line 5. The Mumbai Metro Line 5 AFC contract covers the 11.88 km Thane–Bhiwandi section and extends the company’s earlier work for Lines 4 and 4A. The award concerns ticketing and fare management; it does not open the line or establish a passenger-service date.

Western Railway studies a 45-day flyover rebuild

Western Railway is considering a 45-day block to rebuild the Bandra–Khar Road flyover, replacing a construction schedule previously estimated at six months. The Mumbai sixth-line flyover plan is intended to accelerate the 30.04 km Mumbai Central–Borivali capacity project, but final block dates have not been announced. The shorter programme remains a target while civil, signalling, electrical and station works continue.

Freight, Mainline Capacity and Signalling

Direct container train reaches Biratnagar without transfer

Indian Railways has completed the first direct commercial container run from Kolkata Port to Biratnagar Customs Yard in Nepal. The Kolkata–Biratnagar freight service carried canola in 40 wagons and remained on rail across the border, avoiding the previous transshipment stage. The launch confirms one operating journey under the revised transit protocol, but no timetable, frequency or regular operating pattern has yet been disclosed.

SCR completes its 203-km third-line package

South Central Railway has completed its 203 km tripling and electrification package on the Kazipet–Balharshah corridor, valued at about Rs 3,000 crore. The Kazipet–Balharshah third-line completion followed the final 11 km section between Asifabad and Sirpur Kaghaznagar on 22 July. A short connection into Balharshah yard, under Central Railway, is still in progress, so the full corridor link retains one outstanding interface.

Digital axle counters ordered for 14 stations

RailTel has received a ₹32.74 crore order to add Multi-Section Digital Axle Counters alongside existing track circuits at 14 stations between Aligarh Junction and Dadri. The RailTel signalling contract sets 23 January 2028 as the completion deadline and includes associated works in North Central Railway’s Prayagraj Division. The filing does not specify axle-counter quantities or forecast changes to capacity, frequency or journey times.

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