9km phase-1 extension metro line in North Chennai to open, easy and faster travel for commuters to airport
Posted on: 26/Jan/2021 9:54:32 AM
This piece of news would surely bring happiness on the faces of the residents of north Chennai!!
Trial run and testing of the signalling systems have been completed in the last one month. Soon, the 9km phase-1 extension line from Washermanpet to Wimco Nagar would be open for commercial operations from the first half of the February month. The superb piece of information is that commuters would be able to travel from Wimco Nagar in north Chennai to the airport in south Chennai in around 60 minutes.
For the automatic metro train operations, signalling software is important and this software has been fine tuned by the engineers belonging to CMRL. Trial runs were conducted for this purpose. Currently, work is going on final interiors at the metro stations. Round of signalling tests were completed last week and the signal software was fine tuned as per the tracks profile on the 9km line.
It is known that this 9km line has 8 stations and including 2 underground stations. It was later confirmed by an official belonging to CMRL that testing has been carried out since December and the final test was done on 18thand19th of January 2021.The signal software was developed by a Germany based company. Based on the reports, the company would certify that the signalling is ready for operations.
Approval by CMRS:
By the end of this month of January, inspection by the Commissioner of Railway safety or CMRS would be carried out before the line is ready for opening in February. This was according to some sources belonging to CMRL. For the commercial operation of the line, CMRS approval is compulsory.
This extension line would connect major localities present in north Chennai like Tondiarpet, Korukkupet, Tiruvottriyur, and Wimco Nagar. The point is commuters would be able to board the metro train at Wimco Nagar and go to Chennai Central railway station plus arterial Anna Salai, Alandur, airport without switching trains. It is mentioned that the commuters could go to Egmore or CMBT by physically switching corridors at Central metro station.
Various parameters that were tested are train speed on a straight track or curves, stop point in stations, interlocking systems that prevent the trains from conflicting movements in crossings/junctions etc, communication between the trains from the operation control centre of OCC etc.
It is now brought out that CMRL did not face any issues during testing because of the fact that the same signal software is used in the phase-1 corridors. The day trial runs have been completed and CMRL is conducting night trial runs now after daily operations on the phase-1 lines end. By this, pending work in the stations along the corridor is completed during the day time.
