Three more Metro Trains reach Hyderabad

Hyderabad, June 22 (INN): In addition to the first Metro train received last month which is undergoing different tests at Uppal Metro Rail Depot, three more trains (each train consisting of 3 coaches) have now reached Uppal depot.

These three trains (9 coaches) which arrived at Chennai port from South Korea about 10 days ago were carefully brought to Hyderabad on special multi-wheeled road trailers. With this, so far 4 of the 7 trains required for Stage-I Metro operations between Nagole and Mettuguda (8 km) have been received. The remaining three trains will be received in the next few months. This is ahead of schedule and gives sufficient cushion for elaborate tests and trial runs for safety certification by Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety. Commissioner of Railway Safety of S.C. Railway is the CMRS for the Hyderabad Metro project.

Manufacturing of Metro coaches in M/s.Hyundai Rotem factory in South Korea for the specific conditions of a city and the prescribed design specifications normally takes 20 to 24 months. On being informed by HMR MD NVS Reddy about the successful arrival of Metro trains ahead of schedule, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao complimented him and L&TMRHL management. He advised them to consult different experts and take all safety precautions before starting trial runs.

The Concessionaire L&TMRHL earlier placed an order on M/s.Hyundai Rotem of South Korea for a total of 171 coaches (57 trains) at a cost of about Rs.1800 crore for the needs of all the 3 Corridors of the project (72km), which is scheduled for completion by June 2017. Stage I of the project, Nagole-Mettuguda section (8 km; 7 stations) is scheduled for opening for passenger traffic on Ugadi of next year (March 21, 2015). Since it is the first section, elaborate safety tests and trial runs will have to be conducted for about 6 months for safety certification by CMRS.

Each coach will have a passenger carrying capacity of about 330 people and thus a 3-coach train can carry upto 1000 passengers in one direction. The trains will be expanded to 6 coaches after traffic picks up. Hyderabad Metro has gone for the latest CBTC (Communication Based Train Control) technology for the first time in India. After Hyderabad, Delhi Metro has opted for this technology for its next phase. This Radio based communication and Train Control system gives signalling capacity to run a train every 90 seconds (1 ' minutes). Initially the frequency of the trains will be 5 to 10 minutes during peak hours, which can be later brought down to 2 minutes.

Hyderabad Metro coaches are light weight stainless steel coaches based on 'driver less' technology, with state-of-the-art features. These coaches have automatic door closure and opening mechanism; secondary air suspension for better riding comfort; CCTV surveillance for safety and security; fail safe pneumatic emergency air braking; longitudinal seating arrangement; well designed grab poles; fool proof safety features, etc. Mobile laptop charging points; dedicated space for wheel chairs (for physically handicapped passengers); onboard fire & smoke detection system; LCD TVs for dynamic route display, entertainment & infotainment; wide gangways for passenger comfort; aesthetic panelling; colour combination etc., have been provided to give world class travel comfort for the commuters. Some of these sophisticated features are being introduced for the first time in India ahead of Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and other Metros.

These coaches have 'regenerative' braking system through which upto 30% of power will be regenerated to be fed back into the system. They will run at a maximum operating speed of 80 Kmph, thus giving average speeds of 33 to 35 Kmph due to stoppages at every station etc. This average speed is 3 times the average road vehicle speeds in Hyderabad, added NVS Reddy.