Delhi – Meerut RRTS: Trial Runs Extended to New Ashok Nagar
National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) today started trial runs (train testing) on the 13.3 km Sahibabad – Anand Vihar – New Ashok Nagar section of the 82.15 km Delhi – Meerut RapidX (RRTS) project.
This exciting development marks the entry of Alstom‘s semi high-speed trains, nicknamed Namo Bharat, into Delhi’s city limits. Up until now, the line’s 6-coach trains had been tested and progressively commercially operated exclusively within the state of Uttar Pradesh on a 42 km route between Sahibabad in Ghaziabad and Meerut South Station.
This morning NCRTC’s team today manually operated one of their 40 Alstom trains at a low speed of 10 kmph from Sahibabad Station, down Sahibabad Ramp, through the tunnels on either side of Anand Vihar Station, up New Ashok Nagar Ramp and into Ashok Nagar Station.
As always, the sole objective of the first run was to check for Schedule of Dimensions (SOD) clearances and observe the train’s interaction with the civil structure to ensure there are no physical obstructions along the way.
The Sahibabad Station – Sahibabad Ramp section was built by KEC – CCECC JV as part of 7.3 km Package 1. A majority of that package became operational in October 2023 as part of the 17 km Priority Corridor between Sahibabad – Ghaziabad – Guldhar – Duhai.
The 4 tunnels on either side of Anand Vihar Station were built by STEC as part of 5.6 km Package 4 where the final of 8 tunnel breakthroughs was recorded in August 2023.
The elevated viaduct from New Ashok Nagar Ramp to New Ashok Nagar Station was built by Afcons Infrastructure as part of 9.3 km Package 6 which connects to Sarai Kale Khan Station. That package’s final segment was cast in October 2023.
The Delhi section of the line comprises of 3 stations at Anand Vihar, (interchange with Delhi Metro‘s Pink & Blue lines), New Ashok Nagar (interchange with Blue Line), and Sarai Kale Khan (interchange with Pink Line & future RRTS lines).
All stations are in various stages of completion with station architectural finishing, system installation, PEB roof work, and station entry/exit work underway.
NCRTC hasn’t announced their game plan, so we’ll have to wait and see if they open the entire Sahibabad – Sarai Kale Khan section in one go or adopt a 2 phase staggered approach with Sarai Kale Khan becoming operational at a later stage.
A cool shot of the massive Sarai Kale Khan Station and its surroundings, as viewed from a plane landing into IGI, can be viewed here. Looking at its PEB roof work progress and quantum of work pending in general, I’m inclined to believe there will be a 2 phase opening with the Sahibabad – New Ashok Nagar section opening in Q2 2025 and the New Ashok Nagar – Sarai Kale Khan section opening in mid Q3 2025.
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– TMRG
Doesnt Q3 2025 seems a bit late for Sarai Kale Khan opening. Given the pace of NCRTC work, dont you think they can open it by Q2. Or does the jangpura stabling yard will cause these delays coz work on that is quite behind.
SKK Station is enormous and finishing works to make it usable will take time. I believe they’ll open the line to SKK even if Jangpura yard is not ready.
Hi TMRG, any idea when work will start on the other 2 priority corridors of phase 1 of RRTS?
Delhi Government hasn’t approved either line yet. That said, I’m not sure why they’re stalled since Haryana Government has long approved the lines. Work can always start within Haryana with state funds, just like work on Delhi-Meerut line first started in UP with UP’s funds.