Bengaluru Metro’s Green Line to get full fleet of CRRC trains; existing rakes to move to Purple Line

RDSO testing of the CRRC prototype train has begun between 11:30 pm and 3:30 am on the Green Line, between Jalahalli and Mantri Square–Sampige Road stations.

Bengaluru Metro’s 33-km Green Line (Madavara-Silk Institute) is likely to get the entire fleet of 21 six-coach trains supplied by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), sources told Moneycontrol.

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) will shift existing Phase-1 trains from Green Line to 43-km Purple Line (Whitefield-Challaghatta), the busiest corridor of Namma Metro. The prototype CRRC train, manufactured in China, arrived in Bengaluru in January 2025 and was originally meant to be inducted on Purple Line.

Also, read: CRRC’s Metro train prototype from China arrives for Bengaluru's Purple Line

However, it is yet to be inducted into service. Asked about the status of the prototype train, a BMRCL official told Moneycontrol: “Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) testing has started during the night hours from 11:30pm to 3:30am between Jalahalli and Mantri Square Sampige Road stations on Green Line. The testing will be completed by January 10. The approvals will be required from RDSO, Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS) and the Railway Board. Our target is to get Railway Board sanction by March 2026.”

The remaining 20 six-coach DTG (Distance-To-Go) trains will be manufactured at Titagarh Rail Systems Limited’s (TRSL) Uttarpara facility in West Bengal.

All CRRC trains on Green Line

Officials said the prototype train will be deployed on Green Line after receiving Railway Board approval. “Once approved, the train will be introduced into revenue service on Green Line. Accordingly, one train from Green Line will be transferred” he said.

“For ease of maintenance, we have decided that all CRRC trains will operate only on Green Line. We do not want to maintain CRRC facilities at two depots. Instead, all spares and maintenance infrastructure will be concentrated at Peenya depot (Green Line),” the official said.

Also, read: Prototype train for Bengaluru Metro's Purple Line shipped from China's CRRC

“As a result, all 21 CRRC trains will operate on Green Line, and 17 existing Phase-1 trains will be transferred to the Purple Line. In net terms, after the induction of the 21 CRRC trains, Purple Line will get an additional 17 trains, while Green Line will get four additional trains,” the official said.

“Testing on Green Line is possible only for four hours a day and for four to five days a week during non-revenue hours. Some tests need to be conducted across the entire stretch. All major tests have already been completed,” the official said.

DTG trains, similar in design to the Yellow Line (Electronics City Metro)’s CBTC trains, will have modern passenger amenities, including real-time train location updates and dynamic route maps displayed on LCD screens across doors and gangway panels.

Also, read: Bengaluru Metro plans 4-minute frequency across all corridors in two years

Bengaluru Metro ideally requires one train per kilometre to maintain an optimal frequency of three to four minutes. However, Purple and Green lines together now operate with only 57 trains.

Namma Metro’s daily ridership is around 10 lakh, with a noticeable spike after it connected to Whitefield and Electronics City.

In December 2019, CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Co won the contract to supply 216 coaches in 173 weeks. Of these, 126 coaches (21 six-coach trains) are for the Purple and Green Lines and 90 coaches (15 six-coach trains) are for the Yellow Line (RV Road-Bommasandra). However, it missed multiple deadlines following the India-China standoff and Covid-19.

Also, read: MC Explains: Overcrowded Bengaluru Metro coaches: Fallout of Indo-China conflict