BENGALURU: The Railway Board on Friday approved Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited’s (BMRCL’s) first six-car Metro coach, which is expected to start its first passenger run from next week. Though a fixed date is yet to be decided, BMRCL managing director Mahendra Jain said, “It will not take long, and we will be in a position to run our six-coach trains any time next week.”
He confirmed to The New Indian Express: “The Railway Board has today approved and sanctioned our rolling stock to operate a six-car train set. The maximum operating speed has been specified as 80 kmph.”
When the six-car train set is launched, one coach will be reserved for passengers. “It will carry 1,950 passengers, double the present carrying capacity,” he said.
The debut run plays a crucial role as the other 149 coaches by BEML under a D1,421 crore contract funded by Agence Francaise de Development, will be modelled on the first 6-car train set. The written letter of clearance from the Railway Board is expected from New Delhi on Monday. “We will approach the Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) for permission to run the train immediately.” The CMRS had already conducted one round of inspections of the 6-car coach on April 1 from Sir M Visveswaraiah Metro station to Baiyappanahalli Metro station.
BMRCL was earlier confident of running these services by June 15.
By May-end, BMRCL had sent a report after clearance of the Electro Magnetic Compatibility Tests to the Research Designs and Standard Organisation of Railways in Lucknow. “The RDSO okayed it and sent it to the Railway Board,” the MD said.
The EMC tests conducted by Bharat Earthmovers Limited (BEML) assessed the impact that electromagnetic waves released by a moving train will have on passengers, particularly those fitted with pacemakers. The safety of equipment of the train in the face of the incoming waves was also assessed.
CS holds talks to break deadlock between Union and Metro management
Bengaluru: The final round of talks between the Bangalore Metro Rail Employees Union (BMREU) and top Metro officials was chaired by Chief Secretary Ratna Prabha said on Friday. It is being held as directed by the High Court recently after the Union had threatened to go on an indefinite strike in support of its demands. The meeting was held at Vidhana Soudha in which BMRCL Managing Director Mahendra Jain also took part.