Passenger Trains to Run Beneath Bullet Train Station in Ahmedabad, Tracks May Open Before Diwali

Ahmedabad: Traditional Indian Railways passenger services are set to run directly beneath an elevated high-speed rail terminal for the first time in the country, transforming public transport infrastructure in Gujarat's financial capital.

Three newly constructed broad-gauge tracks and platforms, designated as numbers 10, 11, and 12 at the Ahmedabad railway station, have completed statutory safety inspections by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS). Officials indicate that commercial train operations could commence ahead of Diwali, pending final administrative clearances and formal rollout announcements by the railway administration.

The re-development initiative forms an integral component of the ongoing Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor project. Regular train movements on these platforms had remained suspended since July 2022 to facilitate heavy structural engineering work required for integrating the multi-level transport terminal.

A Three-Tier Multimodal Transit Hub

The site will soon feature a unique three-tier transit arrangement concentrated within a single urban zone. Once fully operational, the upper tier will accommodate bullet trains, the intermediate ground level will manage conventional express, Vande Bharat, and local passenger services, while underground networks will handle metro transit operations. Railway authorities estimate that all three distinct transport services will achieve integrated functioning by late 2028.

Yard Remodelling and Expanded Network Capacity

As part of comprehensive yard remodelling operations, the railway division has built new broad-gauge lines numbered 16, 17, and 18. These additions expand handling capacity at the station, easing congestion and streamlining rake movements to manage growing passenger traffic efficiently.

Additional infrastructural enhancements include the CRS inspection of a newly laid broad-gauge bypass line establishing Y-connectivity between Asarwa station and Sabarmati A Cabin. Furthermore, engineers have progressed on constructing a fifth railway line connecting Ahmedabad station to the Karkaria depot, strengthening regional network resilience.

Ahmedabad Divisional Railway Manager Ved Prakash noted that completing the upgraded lines and platforms represents a major milestone in modernising regional transport corridors.