Alstom has delivered the first trainset for India’s Bhopal-Indore metro project. The trains were built in record time of fourteen and half months and is planned to ready for deployment on the line in 2024.
The first trainset was unveiled in late august, with the second to be delivered in September. The ultramodern, light-weight trains will operate at a top speed of 80 km/h, across the 31 km line in Bhopal with 30 stations and the 31.5 km line in Indore with 29 stations. 27 of the 3 car configuration trainsets, will be for Bhopal while 25 trainsets will be for Indore. The trains have a 50-passenger seating & 300 standing capacity and have been manufactured in India as part of its Make in India initiative.
Alstom India’s managing director, Oliver Loison commented on the delivery update: “It is a proud moment for us to deliver the first trainset for the Bhopal-Indore metro project in advance. Bhopal and Indore has been recognised as a smart city in India, and the addition of metro will modernise the city infrastructure notably. These trains will ensure safe, reliable, efficient, and affordable mass transport system, while also promoting economic activity.
“Alstom is India's long-standing partner in the journey towards sustainable mobility and we are looking forward to further strengthen this partnership by redefining the mass transportation needs of Madhya Pradesh.”
The new trainsets have also been installed with the latest generation of Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system – the digital signalling system used worldwide that allows train-to-wayside data communications along with processors capable of implementing Automatic Train Operation (ATO) and Automatic Train Supervision (ATS) functions.
The new trainsets are based on the Alstom Movia. The Movia design is used across Asia already, with Singapore and Delhi metro systems already using it. This project has concentrated on its ecological credentials with energy efficient propulsion systems and regenerative braking forming a core of the trains design, along with an automatic track inspection system.
The new train sets will now be undergoing testing by Alstom before it carries out further production of the remaining order of 52 standard gauge metros.
The $387 million Bhopal-Indore metro project is anticipated to carry 6 million citizens between the Central Indian cities once in full operation.
Photo Credit: Alstom India
