Chennai Metro Phase 2’s 1st Alstom Train Rolls Out in Sri City
Alstom Transport today rolled out their first of 36 train-sets for Chennai Metro’s 26.1 km Line-4 at their Sri City, Andhra Pradesh facility in the presence of Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. (CMRL) officials.
This 3-coach train of the 116.1 km Chennai Metro Phase 2 project’s Package ARE03A will be operated on Line-4 which will connect Light House – Poonamallee Bypass via 30 elevated and underground stations.
This exciting development comes 26 months after CMRL had awarded Alstom with a Rs. 946.92 crore contract in July 2022 to supply 26 train-sets of 3 coaches capable of running driverless on the unattended train operations (UTO) mode. In November 2023, they awarded a Rs. 269 crore follow-up order to procure an additional 10 train-sets (30 coaches)
The 36 train-sets will be operated in formations of DMC+TC+DMC where DMC = Driving Motor Car and TC = Trailer Car. They will be capable of GoA4 grade of automation and have a maximum design speed of 90 kmph. In a 3-coach configuration, each train will be 67.8 meters long and be capable of accommodating approximately 1000 passengers (crush load conditions).
All trains will be stabled and maintained at Poonamallee Depot in western Chennai which is under construction by Altis – VCL JV.
Here are a few design renderings released by Alstom & CMRL when manufacturing activities formally commenced in February 2024.
As shared in the past, the train-sets’ design is quite similar to Mumbai Metro Aqua Line’s Alstom trains which are currently also being manufactured at Sri City.
Dare I say, I like Chennai’s color scheme better especially since it wraps all the way around the front. Chennai’s trains will however be only 2.9m wide (similar to Jaipur Metro & Delhi Metro’s Violet & Green line BEML trains), but narrower than Mumbai’s 3.2m wide trains.
Pink color’d grab handles will be installed to demarcate spaces dedicated for women-only. A full list of features can be viewed here.
Last week, BEML Ltd. was declared as the lowest bidder to supply 210 coaches for Phase 2’s lines 3 & 5 under Package ARE02A, while bidding is currently underway for both lines’ second rolling stock contract comprising of 96 coaches under Package ARE04A since February 2024.
CMRL had switched ARE04A’s model from lease to procurement after receiving a lackluster response. Its current technical bid opening date is set for October 19, so stay tuned!
A list of all Chennai Metro Phase 2 tenders (civil, systems) and their status can be viewed here.
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– TMRG
Unfortunate that the front driverless view will be only for women. They should have kept the women only section at the back.
Unlike other metro systems, Chennai Metro adopts a distinct approach. It designates one driver coach
exclusively for women, rather than reserving the first coach in the direction of travel. This allows male passengers to access the front view when the train runs in the opposite direction.