DMRC Extends Magenta Line’s Trial Runs to Kalkaji Mandir

On the morning of August 11, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation extended trial runs on the 38.235 km Magenta Line by a further 3 km to the Kalkaji Mandir station! The DMRC had originally commenced trial runs on this line without prior notification in late-May on a 3.5 km section between the Kalindi Kunj Depot and Okhla Vihar.

The new Hyundai Rotem trains will undergo rigorous testing to ensure they are ready for smooth operations when this section of the line is commissioned in mid-2017. Although they are enabled to operate on the UTO (Unattended Train Operations) mode (see list of features), the trains will initially be operated manually by operators for the first few years.

As per a DMRC press release:

During these trials, the interface of the Metro train will be checked to ensure that there is no physical infringement with civil infrastructure during the movement of the train on the track and also testing of various subsystems of coaches shall be done. Later on, in stages, the new signaling technology to be implemented on this corridor and Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) will also undergo rigorous testing. The response of the train at different speeds, braking of the train and the interconnection with the Operations Control Centre (OCC) will also be monitored during the trials. The behavior of the track system and the Over Head Electrification (OHE) will be checked repeatedly.

The section consists of 6 stations at Jasola Vihar/Shaheen Bagh, Okhla Vihar, Jamia Millia Islamia, Sukhdev Vihar, Okhla NSIC and Kalkaji Mandir stations as shown below. Barring the Kalkaji Mandir station, the rest of the stations in this section are elevated and were constructed by Afcons Infrastructure under package CC-15 of the 160 km Phase 3 project.

Alignment of Kalindi Kunj Depot – Kalkaji Mandir section – view Delhi Metro Phase 3 map & information

DMRC’s MD Mangu Singh flagging off the train – Photo Copyright: Arun Sharma/HT via Getty Images

Photo Copyright: Sumit Kumar Pandey

Photo Copyright: Raghu Khandait

Photo Copyright: Arun Sharma/HT via Getty Images

Pulling out of the depot – Photo Copyright: Arun Sharma/HT via Getty Images

Running along the Jasola Vihar Stabling Yard – Photo Copyright: Arun Sharma/HT via Getty Images

Photo Copyright: Arun Sharma/HT via Getty Images

Spotted from Jamia Millia Islamia – Photo Copyright: Jamia News Alert

Photo Copyright: Arun Sharma/HT via Getty Images

Photo Copyright: Arun Sharma/HT via Getty Images

Pulling into Kalkaji Mandir station – Photo Copyright: Kripal Kanyal

Photo Copyright: Hussain Ahmad Siddiqui

Next up, the DMRC plans to extend trial runs eastward towards Noida’s Botanical Garden station in mid-October. The last pier of the Yamuna bridge at Okhla was finally cast in July and workers from SP Singla are now busy in completing the bridge’s last span. The DMRC’s spokesperson, Anuj Dayal, has hinted at a December 2016 opening, but I’m projecting a Q2 2017 opening.

For more updates, check out the Delhi section of The Metro Rail Guy!

– TMRG