[Pics] 1st Metro Train Arrives in Kochi

After a 750 km journey over a period of 8 days, the first metro train for Kochi has arrived at its new home – the Muttom Depot! The Alstom built train was dispatched from the Sri City plant in Andhra Pradesh on January 2 and arrived in the city on January 9. On January 10, the train’s coaches were carefully maneuvered and brought to the depot via a road underbridge under the Indian Railways’ line which currently is the only semi-paved road that connects to the depot.

Courtesy the KMRL’s FB page, relive the train’s journey in these images:

At the Walayar RTO Check Post on the border of Tamil Nadu & Kerala – Photo Copyright: KMRL

Going down NH-47 – Photo Copyright: KMRL

Parked next to the line’s viaduct where it’ll soon run on – Photo Copyright: KMRL

Photo Copyright: KMRL

Next, the coaches were carefully u-turned in order to access the underbridge shown below:

Photo Copyright: KMRL

Photo Copyright: KMRL

Coming down the ramp to access the underbridge – Photo Copyright: KMRL

Photo Copyright: KMRL

It’s like the underbridge was designed for this scenario – Photo Copyright: KMRL

A special crane was brought from Alstom to assist with lifting the coach – Photo Copyright: KMRL

Photo Copyright: KMRL

We have a touchdown! – Photo Copyright: KMRL

Time to unwrap it – Photo Copyright: KMRL

Kochi Metro’s 1st train – Photo Copyright: KMRL

Fun fact – its headlights have been inspired by elephant tusks – Photo Copyright: KMRL

Kochi Metro’s trailer cars – Photo Copyright: KMRL

Photo Copyright: KMRL

Coupled! – Photo Copyright: KMRL

What a view! – Photo Copyright: KMRL

The train will now be taken to the inspection bay where it’ll be inspected and have its systems tested. The formal test run on the 975m test track within the depot will commence on January 23rd after the coaches are unveiled in a ceremony.  Once the ramp connecting the depot to the main line is ready in March/April, the train will begin testing on the 7 km stretch between Muttom & Edappally. The next metro train for the system will be delivered in April after which a new train will join the fleet every month.

Before I sign off, check out the new information page on Kochi’s Metro which I happened to publish today. This can also be accessed through the ‘Cities’ link on the top left corner of this post.

For more updates on Kochi’s Metro, check out the Kochi section of the The Metro Rail Guy!

– TMRG