French rolling stock manufacturer Alstom has delivered the inaugural driverless trainset for the Chennai Metro Phase II in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.
The first Metropolis metro train, entirely manufactured in India, was unveiled at Alstom’s Sricity plant in Andhra Pradesh in September 2024, at an event attended by Tamil Nadu government officials, representatives of Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) and executives from Alstom.
This €124 million ($134.4 million) project involves the production of 36 trainsets, each consisting of three wagons, tailor-made for the 26km corridor from Poonamallee Bypass to Light House, covering 28 stations.
The trains, designed for a safe speed of 90 kmph and an operational speed of 80 kmph, are in line with the ‘Make in India’ initiative, with all design and engineering completed in Bangalore, Karnataka.
Olivier Loison, Managing Director, Alstom India, said: “We are proud to support this vision by delivering world-class, made-in-India, self-driving metro trains that not only improve the commuting experience but also drive sustainable mobility by reducing emissions and reduce traffic congestion.
“As India’s trusted partner in advancing sustainable transportation, Alstom is committed to strengthening this partnership and reshaping Chennai’s public transportation landscape for a greener future.”
These advanced trains are equipped with Automatic Train Operation (ATO) and Automatic Train Protection (ATP) systems, allowing them to operate without a driver at the highest level of automation (GOA 4).
Additionally, they feature regenerative braking systems, which contribute to significant energy savings and provide an eco-friendly commuting option for the residents of Chennai.
Since winning the first contract with CMRL in 2010, Alstom has supplied 208 metro cars for Phase I and carried out track works over a distance of 45 km.
This month, Alstom teamed up with EFE Trenes de Chile to modernize national railway signaling across a 1,800 km network.
“Alstom to Deliver India’s First Driverless Train for Chennai Metro Phase II” was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a brand owned by GlobalData.
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