CRRC dispatched first driverless metro car to Bangalore Metro from China

Bengaluru, India (Metro Rail Today): In a significant development for Bengaluru's Electronics City Metro, the inaugural driverless train has commenced its journey from China. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials revealed that the six-coach train, designated for the Electronics City Metro's 19-km Yellow Line, was loaded onto a ship on January 20 and is currently en route to Chennai.

Anticipated to reach Chennai port by mid or end of February 2024, the train will then be transported by road to Bengaluru's Hebbagodi depot. This marks a crucial milestone in the collaboration with Chinese company CRRC Nanjing Puzhen Co. Ltd., which was awarded the contract for supplying 216 coaches in December 2019.

Despite the initial shipment delay, attributed to factors like the ongoing global pandemic, foreign direct investment policies, and trade restrictions with China, the project has overcome hurdles through collaboration with Kolkata-based Titagarh Rail. CRRC partnered with Titagarh Rail to fulfill the 75 percent local production requirement under the Make in India initiative. Titagarh Rail's facility in Uttarpara near Kolkata is actively engaged in manufacturing and supplying coaches.

Two more trains are in the pipeline, with the body shells already reaching Titagarh's manufacturing facility in November 2023. The assembly work is expected to commence soon, with completion projected within two to three months. Titagarh commits to delivering all 216 coaches to BMRCL by March 2025, marking a crucial phase in augmenting Bengaluru's metro infrastructure.

The Yellow Line, connecting South Bengaluru and Electronics City, is a vital corridor for the region, catering to major IT hubs and corporate establishments. This project marks the deployment of the Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system, often referred to as 'driverless technology.' Despite this capability, BMRCL has decided to continue deploying loco pilots for operational control.

While the Yellow Line's original operational deadline was 2021, subsequent delays pushed it to April 2024. The delayed induction of rolling stock remains a critical factor. Visa issues for CRRC's technical staff, including loco-pilots, technicians, and engineers, are actively being addressed. Work visas for Chinese technical staff in Bengaluru and Kolkata are expected to be phased in.

BMRCL reports that 99% of the civil work for the Yellow Line has been completed, underlining the significance of the rolling stock's timely induction for operational commencement. As Bengaluru anticipates the arrival of its first driverless train, this milestone underscores the resilience and collaborative efforts required for advancing metropolitan transit infrastructure.