Alstom Wins Chennai Metro Phase 2’s 78 Coach Contract

November 2023 Update: Alstom and CMRL have signed a deal for another 30 coaches (see details) taking the total order to 108 coaches (36 trains)

April 2022 Original Post: Alstom Transport India emerged as the lowest bidder to manufacture and supply 78 coaches for Chennai Metro Line-4’s Rolling Stock package after Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) on Tuesday opened financial bids.

26 3-car trains on this line of the 118.9 km Phase 2 project will service Poonamallee Bypass – Light House through 28 (18 elevated & 10 underground) stations, and be stabled & maintained at Poonamallee Depot in western Chennai.

CMRL had originally invited tenders for this rolling stock package in December 2020. After receiving 3 bids in September 2021, the tendering process was abruptly cancelled in November due to “administrative reasons”. Bids were shortly re-invited with a 1960 day (5.37 year deadline) for which CMRL again received 3 bids.

Financial Bid Values

FirmBid (Rs. Crore)
Alstom Transport946.92
BEML1016.27
Titagarh1028.19

Package: Phase – II / ARE03A

Brief Scope: Design, manufacture, supply, testing, commissioning of standard gauge metro rolling stock (electrical multiple units) and training of personnel for Chennai Metro Project Phase II

One of Alstom’s 52 Metropolis train-sets on Chennai’s Phase 1 lines – Photo Copyright: Indian Express

CMRL plans to run these trains in a DMC + TC + DMC configuration with the ability to operate at Grade of Automation level-4 for “driverless” Unattended Train Operations (UTO).

Like other Phase 2 packages, CMRL’s estimate for this is unknown, so I can’t provide an assessment on how Alstom’s bid is placed and what the next steps look like.

If awarded, this will be Alstom’s 2nd major contract for Chennai after Phase 1’s 52 train contract, and they will most likely manufacture these out of their nearby facility at Sri City, Andhra Pradesh.

For Phase 2’s 3 corridors, CMRL in the past has revealed they are looking procure 288 coaches and wet-lease 126 coaches to run services. Here’s a status table for all 3 rolling stock packages:

LineCoaches to be ProcuredCoaches to be Leased
Line-3 & Line-5210 (Package ARE02 – Bids to be opened May 12)126 (Package ARE04) – Cancelled
Line-4Alstom is lowest biddernone

A list of all Chennai Metro Phase 2 tenders (civil, systems) and their status can be viewed here.

For more updates, check out the Chennai section or my Home Page! Sign up for free instant email notifications on new posts over here. Like this post? See how you can get early-access to updates and support the site over here.

– TMRG

Hat-tip: Kiran & Clevin

written by

Global traveler who prefers mass rapid transit

13 Responses to "Alstom Wins Chennai Metro Phase 2’s 78 Coach Contract"

  1. furiosa says:

    TMRG, given the pace in which corridor 4 is being executed ( especially by HCC-KEC) what do you think it’s the realistic estimate of opening of
    1. The line 4 section between Poonamallee and Vadapalani.
    2. Corridor 5 between porur and Sholinganallur

    Reply
    • Samuel says:

      Poonamalle to vadapalani or Kodambakkam will only be opened first I guess, because works are full fledged only in these stretches, in line 5 i.e till sholinganallur it will take more time because the viaduct will surpass many flyovers, mrts lines etc!!

      Reply
    • TMRG says:

      1. Line-4 – sometime in 2025/26? I haven’t heard of any major challenges impeding work right now.
      2. Line-5 – sometime in 2027/28? Depot is all the way in the north. Opening of this section depends on all other sections including the 5.6 km UG6 portion.

      Reply
  2. Clevin Gomes says:

    TMRG, Ive saw your homepage of Mumbai Metro, there are some places which are yet to be updates like operational network on maps, fare structure etc. Please Update Mumbai Metro Homepage

    Reply
  3. Sandeep Srivastava says:

    TMRG do you know where the depot is going to be for the Bangalore metro pink line and what is it’s status ?

    Reply
  4. Anand Asir A says:

    Hi TMRG,
    Any alignment change from CMRL? We hear the alignment marked by L&T is not through CMBT station rather through kaliamman koil road..

    Reply

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