Work on the new Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train in India has been fast-tracked and will be completed by August 2022. Originally the train was scheduled for completion by 2023.

The new initiative will reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad from eight hours to almost two hours. It’s said that the train will run at an average speed of 320kmph and will stop at 12 railways stations; Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati; en route for just two minutes at each location.

The train will travel from Mumbai. Image by GettyImages/ Alex Robinson Photography

Those who are looking for an air-conditioned ride will have to fork up ₹3000 (US$46) per passenger.

Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR) is 508km long and is said to be a visionary upgrade to India’s rail network. They’ve advanced the completion of the deadline so that it coincides with 75 years of India’s independence.

The new train will shave hours off travellers' journeys. Image by GettyImages/narvikk

“Geotechnical surveys have already been done and civil works will begin in June 2018 after we receive the green signal for the entire corridor,” a National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL) official said.

The new bullet train will also head under the sea for a section of the line; of the 21km underground, almost 7km will be beneath the sea. It was revealed this week that a provision of Rs7000 crore (around US$1bn) was being put aside for the ambitious train project.