Bengaluru: The prototype driverless train of Bengaluru metro has arrived at Chennai port on Tuesday after completing 19 day voyage from Sanghai in China. It will run through Namma Metro’s yellow line, currently under construction, after a series of tests in later March.
The coaches of prototype metro train, fitted with internal power, will be transported to Bengaluru via road from the port after customs clearance. The first lot of the consignment has been delivered
China Rolling Railway Stock Corporation (CRRSC) as part of an agreement that the Bengaluru Metro Rail Transport Corporation Limited (BMRCL) had signed with CRCC Nanjing Puzhen Co Limited in December 2019. As per the contract, 4RS-DM 2 trains will be supplied by CRRSC, while the remaining 36 will be assembled locally by Titagarh Rail Systems in West Bengal.
Also Read: Namma Metro sees spike in ridership, adds 7L monthly commuters
The prototype train, which has arrived in parts in ship, will be assembled at Hebbagodi depot in Electronics City, under the supervision of a team of Chinese engineers in Bengaluru. Trial runs of the prototype train will be conducted on yellow line, which is set to connect RV road with Bommasandra via Silk Board. The team of Bengaluru metro will submit report to the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS) after the successful trial run.
BMRCL is likely to get two more consignment of trains from the manufacturing firm in May and two trains every month from June. These driverless trains run at a frequency of 90 seconds, and each coach is 21 meters long.
Yellow line to have 16 stations
The Yellow Line between Bommasandra and RV Road will have 16 stations and will be roughly 19 km long. This vital stretch is expected to ease traffic in the city. It connects Bommasandra to the heavily congested Central Silk Board area. According to the plan, Yellow Line is supposed to be launched this month but it will be delayed as work is pending.
Also Read: 6 Namma metro station’s names changed ahead launch of new line
15 trains to ply on Yellow line
The Bangalore Metro’s Yellow Line will have 15 trains to maintain a decent frequency. While two trains, consisting six coaches each will be supplied by the Chinese company, while the remaining 75% will be made in India by the Kolkata-based Titagarh Rails.
Officials of BMRCL said that the trains would undergo a series of off-track and on track tests & trials.
Driverless technology
The coaches will be integrated into the Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) system, often called “Driverless Technology”, which will reduce headway to 90 seconds from the current two and a half minutes. Officials said that BMRCL has assigned loco pilots to run the driverless metro train to reassure passengers. The driverless metro will provide smooth connectivity to key business areas and housing corporations including Infosys and Biocon in South Bengaluru.
Also Read: Bangalore metro introduces WhatsApp-based ticketing
Yellow Line
The 18.82 Km long under-construction metro line being constructed on fully elevated shape connects RV Road with Bommasandra. It also connects with the Green Line of Bangalore Metro at RV Road Station & with the Pink Line at Jayadeva Hospital station. It is expected to open by early 2024. The route was to be made operational by 2021, but the deadline was extended many times. The yellow line will go to stations like Bommamanahalli, BTM Layout, HSR Layout, Jayadeva Hospital, etc.
