Indian Railways trains to run under Ahmedabad bullet train station in first-of-its-kind integration
Synopsis
For the first time in India, conventional trains are set to run beneath a bullet train station — a feat of engineering integration at Ahmedabad. With the CRS inspection of three new broad gauge lines under the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail viaduct now done, the only gate left is safety clearance. If it lands, platform 10 reopens after more than four years, and a new template for co-locating India's two rail speeds is set.
Key Takeaways
Commissioner of Railway Safety E.
Srinivas inspected three new broad gauge lines (numbered 16, 17 and 18 ) serving platforms 10, 11 and 12 at Ahmedabad railway station on 28 October 2026 .
The platforms are built beneath the upcoming Ahmedabad bullet train station , making this the first arrangement of its kind in India where conventional trains will run under a high-speed rail station.
Platform 10 has been closed since July 2022 due to high-speed rail construction work.
Once operational, the platforms will serve express trains , Vande Bharat Express , and local passenger trains, boosting station capacity.
A new broad gauge bypass line between Asarwa and Sabarmati 'A' cabin and a fifth line to Kankaria depot are also under development.
Passenger services will commence only after formal safety clearance from the CRS and completion of all prescribed procedures.
Indian Railways has completed a landmark infrastructure milestone at Ahmedabad railway station, with the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) inspecting three newly constructed broad gauge lines and their associated platforms that will allow conventional trains to operate beneath the upcoming bullet train station — the first such arrangement in the country. The inspection, conducted on 28 October 2026, marks a significant step in the integration of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor with the existing rail network.
What Was Inspected
The CRS inspection was carried out by E. Srinivas, Commissioner of Railway Safety, Western Circle, Mumbai. The three new lines — numbered 16, 17 and 18 — serve platforms 10, 11 and 12 at Ahmedabad railway station, all of which have been constructed beneath the footprint of the upcoming bullet train station. The inspection also covered a newly built broad gauge bypass line with Y-connectivity between Asarwa railway station and Sabarmati 'A' cabin.
Senior officials present included Ahmedabad Divisional Railway Manager Ved Prakash and Chief Administrative Officer (Construction) Pradeep Gupta, along with representatives from railway construction and open line departments.
What the Officials Said
'The completion of the new platforms and broad gauge railway lines at Ahmedabad railway station for operating Indian Railways trains beneath the bullet train station is a historic achievement in the modernisation of Indian Railways,' Divisional Railway Manager Ved Prakash said. He described the arrangement as 'a unique example of modern railway engineering and technical coordination between different railway systems.'
Prakash added that passenger operations on the new platforms would begin only after the required safety clearance and completion of all prescribed procedures.
Capacity and Connectivity Gains
Once cleared for operations, platforms 10, 11 and 12 will be able to accommodate express trains, Vande Bharat Express services, and local passenger trains — significantly expanding the station's throughput capacity. Platform 10 has remained closed since July 2022 owing to construction work tied to the high-speed rail project, making the completion of this infrastructure a long-awaited development for the city's rail network.
Additionally, a fifth railway line between Ahmedabad railway station and Kankaria depot is being developed to further expand regional rail capacity, reduce operational bottlenecks, and improve utilisation of existing infrastructure. The new Asarwa–Sabarmati bypass line is expected to improve route connectivity and streamline train movement planning across the Ahmedabad region.
Historical Context
The redevelopment reflects a broader transformation at one of Western Railway's busiest stations. Before 2017, platforms 11 and 12 served metre gauge trains, with the Ahmedabad–Himmatnagar section handling eight pairs of passenger services. These included the Ahmedabad–Udaipur Fast Passenger, Ahmedabad–Khedbrahma Passenger, and several other routes connecting the city with surrounding towns and rural areas. The conversion from metre gauge to broad gauge, and now the construction of lines beneath a high-speed rail viaduct, marks a multi-decade evolution of the station's infrastructure.
The current yard remodelling is intended to meet rising rail traffic demands and improve the utilisation of infrastructure at what is one of Gujarat's principal railway nodes.
What Happens Next
Western Railway is completing the necessary technical and operational checks before the new platforms are brought into passenger service. Safety approval from the CRS remains the critical pending step. The new platforms, the Asarwa–Sabarmati bypass, and the additional Kankaria depot line are collectively expected to strengthen Ahmedabad's rail connectivity and set a template for future co-location of high-speed and conventional rail systems in India.
Point of View
Cost overruns, and land acquisition battles since its 2017 launch. That conventional trains are now physically positioned beneath the viaduct suggests the physical integration is ahead of the policy and operational integration. The real test will be whether safety clearances, operational protocols, and station management can match the engineering achievement — and whether this model is replicable at the other stations along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of trains running beneath Ahmedabad's bullet train station?
It is the first time in India that conventional Indian Railways trains will operate beneath a high-speed rail station, representing a unique integration of two distinct railway systems at a single location. The arrangement is part of the broader Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project and the redevelopment of Ahmedabad railway station.
When will the new platforms 10, 11 and 12 at Ahmedabad station open for passengers?
Passenger services on the new platforms will begin only after the Commissioner of Railway Safety grants formal safety approval and all prescribed technical and operational procedures are completed. No specific date has been announced yet.
Why was platform 10 at Ahmedabad railway station closed?
Platform 10 was closed in July 2022 to facilitate construction work related to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project. The completion of the new broad gauge infrastructure now brings it closer to reopening.
What trains will use the new platforms once they are operational?
Platforms 10, 11 and 12 are expected to accommodate express trains, Vande Bharat Express services, and local passenger trains, increasing overall station capacity and enabling more efficient train operations.
What other infrastructure work is underway at Ahmedabad railway station?
A new broad gauge bypass line with Y-connectivity between Asarwa railway station and Sabarmati 'A' cabin has been built, and a fifth railway line between Ahmedabad station and Kankaria depot is also under development to reduce operational bottlenecks and expand regional rail capacity.
