CMRL Runs Loco through Chennai Metro’s Blue Line Tunnels

Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL) today ran a diesel-powered locomotive on Chennai Metro’s 4.5 km Little Mount – AG-DMS section of its 32.10 km new Blue Line between Wimco Nagar and Chennai Airport.

This 4.5 km section includes the 4 km UAA-03 underground section with 4 stations at Saidapet, Nandanam,  Teynampet and AG-DMS which were built primarily by the Gammon – Mosmetrostroy JV and abandoned in May 2015, right before the package’s last 2 TBM breakthroughs. Afcons Infrastructure was roped in by the CMRL to perform the section’s final TBM breakthrough in September 2015, and around the same time, CMRL awarded a contract to Larsen & Toubro for completing all pending civil work at the 4 stations.

Little Mount – AG-DMS section of Chennai Metro – view Chennai Metro map & info

Here are some images of the first visitor to this line’s underground section which starts off from the Saidapet Ramp on the northern end of the 8.6 km Airport –  Little Mount section. Note – Only the down-line track was utilized.

Going down the Saidapet Ramp

Teynampet Station

Signalling & electrification works on this section are still ongoing, so it’ll be a couple more months before proper trial runs (testing) begins using the Alstom fleet.

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

– TMRG