Driverless trains on the metro phase-2 corridors in Chennai
Posted on: 24/Sep/2019 9:57:33 AM
Who would have thought that one day in Chennai there might be driverless metro trains? Sound`s sensational isn`t it!!
It is now said that 6 years from now commuters in Chennai might get a view of an operator when they travel by the driverless metro trains along the phase-2 corridor. It must be taken into account that the new rolling stock cannot be run on phase-1 corridor of 45 km. Hence the commuters would not be able to enjoy the experience on phase-1.
In the phase-2, the entire operation of trains would be automatic and CMRL has plans to operate driverless trains in the 3 corridors of 118.9 km phase-2. Information is, trains on phase-1 would be run by drivers.
It was later mentioned by an official belonging to CMRL that the signal systems needed for the driverless trains are different from those being used for the trains on phase-1. It is brought out that trains on both phases cannot be interchanged. Operation of the metro trains plus their associated systems are controlled by the signal software is known. The software would be different though rolling stock might look the same. This was as per a CMRL official. Point to be noted here is trains designed for phase-2 cannot be operated on phase-1.
In the year 2025, the first leg of phase-2 would begin its operations and it is clear that every day an estimated 138 three-car chains would be run at a frequency of 4 to 10 minutes. As many as 19.2 lakh passengers would be transported to their destinations. A superb piece of information is CMRL has got plans to increase its fleet to 254 trains in 3 decades to cater to an estimated daily ridership of 43.5 lakhs.
Information collected is signal software plays a huge role in controlling the operations of the train, automatic train announcements on trains and in stations plus it control the platform screen doors, automatic fare collection gates and information display board on platforms.
It must be noted that the commuters would have to exit phase-2 stations and reach phase-1 lines through exclusive subways and walkways. This would be due to technologically incompatible rolling stock. In places such as KMC, CMBT, Anna Nagar, Vadapalani, Nandanam, and St Thomas Mount, there would be interchange linking stations of both phases.
An official later spoke about how the stations planned in phase-2 would not be built on the same road as phase-1. He added that for switching corridors the commuters would have to use a walkway that would be constructed. Information is in phase-1 the operators manually stop and start the trains at the stations and open or close the doors. It is revealed that in phase-2 the console would stay locked.
