First China-Made Prototype Of Driverless Train: Bengaluru Metro

The Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) announced that the first China-made prototype of a driverless metro train consisting of six coaches arrived in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Shipped all the way from Shanghai to Chennai, the coaches were transported in four vehicles by road, finally arriving at Bengaluru’s Electronic City, the IT hub in South Bengaluru.

The BMRCL official stated that he had ordered 216 cars, of which 90 will operate on the Yellow Line, forming 15 trains. Reportedly, the prototype will be tested on the 18.82 km of the Yellow Line, which connects RV Road to Electronic City via Silk Board. The rest of the coaches will be divided between Purple and Green Line, according to the BMRCL officials.

After the trial run, a report will be submitted to the Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety (CCRS). The driverless trains run at a frequency of 90 seconds, with each coach being about 21 metres in length. The train will be assembled at Electronics City, with a team of Chinese engineers monitoring throughout.

The coaches are manufactured by CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Co. Ltd., a China-based firm. While the prototype train consists of six cars, the rest of the coaches are reported to be manufactured domestically by Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd.

BMRCL Chief B. L. Yeshwanth Chavan stated that at least 40-plus tests will be conducted and the prototype will undergo oscillation trials by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO). He added that receiving technical sanctions from the railway board is also a mandatory step.

The BMRCL has yet to reveal a date when the trains will be opened for public use.

Between Bommasandra and RV Road, the Yellow Line will have 16 stations and will be 19 km long. Connecting Bommasandra to the heavily congested Silk Board region, the trains are expected to ease traffic in the city.