KOCHI: The two-way trial run of the Kochi Metro Rail, on both the tracks, is likely to be held in June. Work on the infrastructure for conduct of the trial run, between the Muttom coach maintenance yard and Edappally, is progressing fast.
Officials of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) are hopeful of conducing the trail run next month. The trail run on the ‘up’ line, from Aluva to Pettah, was conducted earlier this year.
“The ‘up’ line works up to Edappally were completed earlier this year, and trail run was conducted in the 6.5-km corridor between Muttom yard and Edappally. Now, the ‘down’ line track is being laid on the stretch. The work is progressing, and the officials hope to conduct the trial run, on both directions, by mid June,” said DMRC sources.
Currently, trial run on the ‘up’ line is conducted at a maximum speed of 30 km/hour. In the next trial run, the maximum speed will be increased to 90 km/hour. Currently, test runs are being conducted on tracks laid inside the Muttom yard, before holding the trial run on actual tracks at a higher speed. So far, the Metro train has achieved speed of 80 km/hour in trials held inside the Muttom yard.
Earlier, KMRL officials had informed that when frequency of the trial run is increased, more coaches would be required.
According to the authorities, the next set of Metro Rail coaches are likely to reach Kochi from the Sri City facility of Alstom by next month.
The first trial run of the Metro on actual tracks was held in February 27 between Muttom Yard and Kalamassery, at a maximum speed of eight km/hour. In the second trail run, conducted between the Muttom yard and Edappally, the speed was increased to 30 km/hour.
Meanwhile, commercial operation of phase-I of the Metro is likely to be conducted from Aluva to Palarivattam. The Commissioner for Railway Safety is expected to inspect the train in October, and the project is likely to be commissioned on November 1, the ‘Kerala Piravi’ day.