Crucial Trial Run of Kochi Metro Commences Today
KOCHI: The phase-III trial run of the Kochi Metro Rail will begin on Monday.
This time, the trial run will be conducted on the six-km stretch between the Muttom coach maintenance yard and Edappally.
The Metro coaches will be brought to the track through the ramp from the Muttom yard at 9.30 am. Phase-I of the Metro trial was held in January on the track laid inside the yard. In phase-II, train travelled on elevated track about one km, from the yard to Kalamassery.In the first two phases, the train ran at a maximum speed of 10 km/hour. In phase-III, the speed will be increased to 30 km/hour, during which the software issues will be sorted out. Work on the tracks to facilitate the trial run from the yard to Edappally was completed on Saturday. Officials inspected the track with the help of structural gauges, and removed all the construction materials. The tracks will be inspected again before the trial run.
The Kochi Metro Rail will feature Communication-based Train Control (CBTC), the advanced signaling and train control technology. The CBTC will help trains run with a headway of 90 seconds, which will help tackle peak-hour rush.
In the traditional system, it is the driver who monitors the signal system. In the CBTC, meanwhile, the entire operations can be controlled automatically from the OCC.
This will make it possible for Kochi Metro trains to travel without driver. Installation of software for the CBTC is progressing at the Muttom Yard .
The fourth phase of the trial run of the Kochi Metro will be held in May. KMRL authorities hope to run the train up to Palarivattom, in the fourth phase. They plan to complete work of the track up to Maharaja’s College before the monsoon, so that the next trail run could be extended upto Maharaja’s College by.
Extension Plan
Preliminary steps for land acquisition for phase-II of the Kochi Metro expansion started the other day. In phase-II, the Metro will be extended up to InfoPark, via Kakkanad, from Palarivattam. The land acquisition wing has already started demarcation of the land needed for acquisition.
The expansion will begin soon after commissioning of the phase-I up to Tripunithura.
Increase in Train Speed
In phase-II, train travelled on elevated track about one km, from the yard to Kalamassery.In the first two phases, the train ran at a maximum speed of 10 km/hour. In phase-III, the speed will be increased to 30 km/hour, during which software issues will be sorted out.
Fourth Phase of Trial Run
The fourth phase of the trial run of the Metro will be held in May. KMRL hopes to run the train up to Palarivattom, in the fourth phase. They plan to complete work of the track up to Maharaja’s College before the monsoon, so that the next trail run could be extended upto Maharaja’s.