Alstom Bids for Delhi Metro Red Line’s Signaling Upgrade

Just like the Yellow Line, Alstom Transport India is the only bidder for upgrading and introducing virtual signals on the Delhi Metro’s 34.4 km Red Line (Line-1) which connects Shaheed Sthal in Ghaziabad and Rithala.

This line with 29 stations, built between Phases 1-3, is equipped with Alstoms’ Urbalis-200 train-control & signaling solution so it was fairly obvious that Alstom would be one of the bidders, if not the only bidder for this contract.

Signaling upgrade of the Delhi Metro’s oldest 3 lines (red, yellow and blue) has been in the works since at least 2019 by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) with an aim to identify glitches and allow affected trains to still run at regular speeds of 33-37 kmph until the next interlocking section. The end goal is to provide smoother operations, prevent overcrowding at stations, and allow for short loop train services on congested segments.

DMRC had invited bids for the Red Line’s upgrade in March with an estimated cost of Rs. 90.27 crore and completion period of 15 months. Technical bids were opened on Thursday to reveal Alstom as the only bidder.

Contract: CS56

Brief Scope: : Design, Manufacture, Supply, Installation, Configuration/customisation, Testing and Commissioning of Train Control and Signalling system for short looping train movement along with Virtual signal implementation, Six car to Eight car trains conversion along with Head stopping at all platforms of Line-1 and Integration of Train Control and Signalling system of Line-1 with Third Party ATS system

Alstom’s bid will now be sent for technical evaluation which can take a couple months to get complete, and they should go on to be awarded with its contract this summer. The installation, testing and commissioning of virtual signals is planned to be accomplished during non-revenue hours.

Here’s a grainy graphic from the TOI published in February 2020 related to the Blue Line where virtual signals are currently being installed. That line is equipped with Siemens’ signaling solution and is notorious for snags.

Excerpt from their article explaining virtual signals in further detail:

The Delhi Metro Blue Line corridor is divided between the ‘interlocking sections’. This is the portion between the metro stations where the trains can change the tracks. For example, both Laxmi Nagar and Anand Vihar stations are interlocking stations and the section on the route between them, comprising three stations, namely, Nirman Vihar, Preet Vihar and Karkardooma becomes one interlocking section. A signalling hitch at any of these interlocking sections disrupts the entire stretch. The movement is affected as the train operators need to acquire target speeds from each station manually. To ensure the safety of the passengers, the speed is restricted to 20-25 km per hour causing clumping of trains, leading to a cascading effect on the entire metro corridor. 

The virtual signalling system is an intermediate entry and exit location displayed on the signalling monitor at the control centre. The system can be used to divide the routes between any two fixed signals. However, since it is not a physical signal, it only controls trains having automatic train protection. The concept of virtual signalling aims to keep the metro trains operating at the normal speed of 35-37 kmph. The virtual signalling system will also ensure that the trains reach the nearest interlocking section at a faster pace. 

Siemens was awarded a Rs. 86.21 crore contract for the Blue Line’s signaling upgrade in June 2020, while Alstom’s financial bid for the Yellow Line’s upgrade was opened in March 2021 with its award still pending.

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– TMRG