Know this latest issue of CMRL in Chennai regarding driverless trains!!
Posted on: 19/Apr/2023 9:25:48 AM
Things have not gone as per the plans for CMRL now!!
The plans of CMRL to lease metro trains have been found to be unfeasible and hence CMRL would have to spend more to purchase 42 driverless trains.
It was earlier suggested that by leasing out 42 trains could bring down the project cost from Rs 89000 crores to Rs 61843 crores. It must be noted that CMRL has learnt that the companies do not lease metro trains as the trains cannot be used elsewhere after the lease period gets over. The plan to lease 42 trains has been scrapped now by CMRL.
Along the phase- 2 118.9km network, CMRL had planned to operate 138 three car trains. This phase-2 has been scheduled to open for the public in 2026.
It was later mentioned by an officer from CMRL that a meeting took place with train manufacturers across the world to know about why metro trains were not leased. Truth is that metro trains are specifically designed to run in a city or a line and companies that lease them cannot withdraw them and use them elsewhere. On the other hand, long distance trains and suburban trains etc could be leased and used elsewhere until the signalling software was the same. He threw light on how nearly Rs 1000 cr would be needed to buy these trains.
It was revealed by the DPR that 118.9km phase-2 would need 414 coaches or 138 three car trains when the operations begin in 2025. The DPR also brought out that in 30 years 762 coaches or 254 three car trains would be needed. The trains would be of low capacity and of high frequency and in the beginning there would be just 3 car trains. Both 3 car and 6 car trains would be used in the peak hours when the patronage increases.
