Titagarh to supply the first train for Bengaluru metro’s Electronics City corridor in August 2024

After missing multiple deadlines, Kolkata-based Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) is likely to deliver the first train for Bengaluru metro's Yellow Line (RV Road - Bommasandra), that connects Electronics City, the tech hub, by August 2024.

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) sources told Moneycontrol that production of the first six-coach train is likely to commence at TRSL's wagon-manufacturing facility at Uttarpara, near Kolkata, on May 10. Last year, TRSL received two train car body shells from China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC).

"TRSL will supply 14 six-coach Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) trains for the Yellow Line between August 2024 and February 2025," said a senior BMRCL official.

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"Under the supervision of CRRC personnel, TRSL will conduct procedures such as welding, gluing, and crimping. TRSL will need to pass tests conducted by CRRC to ensure quality, given that most TRSL personnel are new to metro car manufacturing," he added.

The 19-km-long Yellow Line  was supposed to be operational in 2021 — the revised deadline is December 2024. While the civil work has been completed, delays in getting the trains have stalled metro connectivity to Electronics City, which houses companies like Infosys and Biocon.

"We plan to commence the Yellow Line operations with six trains by December 2024. Subsequently, we will receive two trains each month, which will improve the frequency," said a BMRCL official. "Of the six trains, one will be reserved for maintenance / spares, so the initial frequency will be 15 minutes."

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Trial runs 

BMRCL officials said that trial runs  will commence by the end of May 2024.

"We will commence the trial run of the entire Yellow Line (RV Road to Bommasandra) by the last week of May 2024. The trials will start once the third rail (rail that runs along the tracks for the supply of DC power to trains) is energised by the end of May. All static tests, both of the rolling stock and the signalling, have been done. We have around 36 tests to complete. For most tests, only one prototype train, which is received from CRRC, is required. Towards the end, three trains will be needed for testing," explained an official.

"The installation of both the tracks and the signalling for the entire line has been completed. Rail grinding for the entire corridor has just been completed," he said.

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The rail-grinding machine smooths out the tracks by eliminating irregularities / corrugation on the surface, ensuring a smoother interaction between the track and the train.

"The first train from TRSL is expected to reach Bengaluru in August, and the second in September. We are planning to complete all tests by September 2024, and invite the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) for inspection in October, once we get the approval from the railway board," said an official.

It may be recalled that the prototype six-coach metro train, manufactured by CRRC, was shipped from Shanghai  on January 24, and reached Chennai  on February 6. From Chennai port, it was transported in four trailer vehicles and arrived at Hebbagodi depot on February 14. On March 7, BMRCL  began slow trial runs between Bommasandra and Bommanahalli stations on the Yellow Line.  The train ran at a slow speed of 10-25 kmph, and various parameters were assessed along the route, including the civil interface, track alignment, and others.

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Existing corridors to get additional trains by Nov 2025

Shortage of rolling stock has led to overcrowding on Bengaluru’s two operational lines — Purple (Challaghatta - Whitefield) and Green (Silk Institute - Nagasandra). BMRCL officials said that CRRC will supply the prototype DTG train from China in August 2024. "TRSL will supply the remaining 20 DTG (Distance-To-Go) trains for the existing Purple and Green lines by November 2025," said an official.

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Experts said BMRCL should ideally have one train per km to maintain an optimal frequency of three to four minutes. While the Bengaluru metro network’s total length has increased to 73 km, it has only 57 trains now. This has affected the opening of the Yellow Line as well as the extension of the Green Line  (3 km between Nagasandra and Bangalore International Exhibition Centre).

Reasons for the delays

In December 2019, CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Co Ltd, China, received the contract to supply 216 coaches, which were expected to be delivered within 173 weeks. Of these 216 coaches, 126 (equivalent to 21 six-coach trains) are for the Purple and Green lines, while the remaining 90 (equivalent to 15 six-coach trains) are for the Yellow Line.

Also, read: Bengaluru: Prototype of driverless Metro train for Electronics City revealed; trains likely to arrive from China by Oct

Supply chain challenges emerged 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 attributed to factors such as Covid, foreign direct investment policies, and trade restrictions with China. Subsequently, CRRC partnered with TRSL to manufacture and supply the coaches.

While the prototypes of both CBTC and DTG trains are manufactured in CRRC's plant in China, the remaining 34 trainsets (14 CBTC and 20 DTG) are being manufactured in India at TRSL's plant. However, issues with getting visas for CRRC engineers from China for testing and commissioning of trains, as well as delays in acquiring propulsion systems from Japan, have also contributed to the delays.

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