Signalling Tests Completed for Kochi Metro’s 2nd Stretch

Engineers from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Alstom have completed testing the signalling and telecommunication system on a 5 km extension of Kochi Metro’s 13.2 km Line-1 between Palarivattom and Maharaja’s College Station.

Trial runs (testing) on the extension started on July 14 during which a train was operated manually to check its interaction with the line’s civil structure. Testing work on Alstom’s Urbalis 400 communications-based train control (CBTC) system began on August 26 and was primarily carried out in the early morning hours due to which commercial operations for a 2 week period commenced at 8 am instead of 6 am.

This new elevated section of Line-1 runs on Banerjee Road and MG Road, and once operational will extend the 13.2 km operational line deep into the city center through 5 new stations at JLN Stadium, Kaloor, Lisie, MG Road and Maharaja’s College –

2nd stretch of Kochi Metro’s Line-1 – view Kochi Metro map and information

Testing underway on Kochi’s 5 km extension – Photo Copyright: KMRL

An Independent Safety Assessor (ISA) will now test and certify the signalling system, and the Kochi Metro Rail Ltd. hopes to have the local Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) inspect and certify the line for commercial operations in the second half of this month so that it can go live before the start of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in early October.

On a different note, construction work on the line’s next extension, south of Maharaja’s College Station, has just restarted after a consortium of Cherian Varkey Construction Company and Vijay Nirman Company emerged as the lowest bidder (and subsequent winner) for package KC-17 towards Petta. That section is expected to open up in or after 2020.

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

– TMRG