Metro line in north Chennai to open in June, CMRL to get 10 new trains
Posted on: 18/Sep/2019 10:09:42 AM
People who travel frequently by metro trains in Chennai has now got a reason to cheer.
It is now revealed that from the month of October CMRL or Chennai Metro Rail Limited would start getting 10 new trains for the extended phase-1 corridor. The point is this could change the face of north Chennai. Information collected is the 10 new trains would be used along the 9 km line from Wimco Nagar to Washermenpet.
This line in north Chennai would be opened in the month of June in 2020. It is brought out that the 10 new trains would join the existing fleet of 42 trains when CMRL increases the frequency of train services to 2.5 minutes.
It must be taken into account that the new trains though mainly for the north Chennai localities would be operated across the entire corridor from Wimco Nagar to airport trough Washermenpet. An official belonging to CMRL explained how the new trains would be used when 2.5 min train frequency services come into force in the future. He added that the new trains would be kept ready and would be moved to the mainline when the footfall increases.
Next month, first of the 10 new trains would be rolled out of Alstom’s factory located in SriCity in AP. Information gathered is once the trains arrive then they would be readied at the depots and would be operated when the new line gets opened. In the peak hours, from the earlier 7 min train services frequencies, CMRL had increased the train frequency between Washermenpet and airport to 5 minutes in August is known.
It is important to note that as many as 35 trains are operated during the peak hours and as many as 25 in the non-peak hours. Ten new trains added to the fleet would not be sufficient to operate services for every 2.5 minutes on both the corridors at the same time.
The official spoke about how 33 trains in each corridor would be required to operate in that frequency. He threw light on how the new trains could still be used if CMRL wants to operate services for every 2.5 minutes in just one corridor for a specific time in a day. Presently, about 1 lakh people use metro train services as against an estimated 7.76 lakhs. It is now said that the new line would take modern transit facility to Chennai’s oldest localities and it would change the way the residents travel.
It is known that major transit hubs in Chennai are not directly connected by other public transport services such as MTC etc. The metro trains would be a boon for the commuters as the commuters would be able to reach the major transit hubs much faster and easier.
