Bengaluru Metro's first driverless train arrives at Chennai port from China

The prototype of the first six-coach train for the Electronics City Metro (19-km Yellow Line) was shipped on January 24 from the Shanghai port to Chennai.

After long delays, Bengaluru Metro's first driverless train for the Yellow Line (RV Road - Bommasandra) from China finally arrived at the Chennai port on February 6. The prototype of the first six-coach train for the Electronics City Metro line (19-km Yellow Line) was shipped on January 24 from the Shanghai port.

Also read: First driverless train for Bengaluru's Electronics City Metro shipped from China

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials confirmed the arrival of the prototype train at the Chennai port. "Unloading is scheduled for February 7. Following customs clearance, it will be transported to Bengaluru by road. It is expected to reach Hebbagodi depot near Electronics City," a senior BMRCL official told Moneycontrol.

"It has to undergo customs clearance, which will take around five days. It will be transported by road towards the Hebbagodi depot in Electronics City. We are hoping that it will arrive by February 18 since it can only be moved at night," BMRCL chief public relations officer BL Yashwanth Chavan told Moneycontrol.

He said it will be transorted by road only at night. "Once it reaches Hebbagodi, it needs to be assembled before moving to the test track for static and electrical circuits testing. Later, it will be moved to the mainline for around 15 tests. Following this, Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO) trials, approvals from Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS), Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS), and the railway board will be required," said Chavan.

Chavan said that multiple tests need to be conducted since it is a new rolling stock. "There will be 37 tests lasting for four months, followed by signalling tests for 45 days," he said.

He also stated that they may require eight trains to commence operations on the Yellow Line. "Initially, the frequency on the Yellow Line will be less, and after more trains are inducted, it will become more," he added

While rolling stock was supposed to be shipped from China in September 2023, various factors contributed to the delays. The Yellow Line (RV Road - Bommasandra) is a crucial Metro corridor, linking South Bengaluru with Electronics City, housing major companies like Infosys and Biocon.

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In December 2019, CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Co. Ltd., the Chinese company, secured the contract to supply 216 coaches, with an expected delivery to BMRCL within 173 weeks. Out of these, 126 coaches (21 six-coach trains) are for the Purple and Green lines, while the remaining 90 coaches (15 six-coach trains) are for the Yellow Line.

However, supply chain challenges arose as CRRC struggled to identify a local manufacturer, affecting compliance with the 75 percent local production requirement under the 'Make in India' initiative. Delays were also due to factors such as COVID-19, foreign direct investment policies, and trade restrictions with China.

Subsequently, CRRC partnered with Kolkata-based Titagarh Rail to manufacture and supply the coaches. Titagarh will manufacture the remaining 204 coaches, with the assurance that all 216 coaches for BMRCL will be delivered by March 2025.

BMRCL officials said CRRC and Titagarh have to supply six-seven trains before they can start operations on the Yellow Line. Once the train sets are received, testing and trial runs are expected to take time. Spare trains should also be available for maintenance purposes as all trains cannot be deployed for commercial operations.

The delay in the delivery of coaches from CRRC has led to overcrowding on Bengaluru’s two operational lines – Purple (Challaghatta - Whitefield) and Green (Silk Institute - Nagasandra). This delay has also affected Yellow Line as well as the Green Line extension (3 km between Nagasandra and Bangalore International Exhibition Centre).

Also read: Whitefield line boosts Bengaluru Metro's average daily ridership by 80K; cuts traffic congestion by 14%