GHAZIABAD (Metro Rail News): The Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project’s first train in the nation would likely start its trial run in November. The first RRTS train will be tested on the 17-kilometer priority section in Ghaziabad, and it will be the first RRTS stretch to be operational in March 2023, officials of the project executing agency, National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), stated.
The first two trains have been delivered to the NCRTC by the Savli manufacturing facility in Gujarat, and a third train would be delivered to the Duhai depot in Ghaziabad shortly official added. A control center at the Duhai depot will oversee all train operations for the priority section.
“The work for the viaduct for the 17-km priority section is about 99% complete. Once it is over, the work for laying tracks and installation of overhead equipment will be taken up in the month of October. Thereafter, the trial run will start in November. The trial run will involve the speed test of the trains and will also include a host of other tests for the safety and operational readiness of RRTS trains. The speed test will see the trains touch the 180 kilometers per hour (kmph) mark,” said Puneet Vats, NCRTC chief public relations officer.
The six-coach RRTS trains will run at a design speed of 180kmph. According to official sources, the RRTS trains’ real operating speed will be close to 160 kmph, and their average running speed would be near 100 kmph.
In March 2025, the RRTS project’s entire 82-km phase will connect Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut and would be put into service. According to sources, the NCRTC has proposed 30 trains with six coaches each in addition to 10 trains with three coaches for Meerut’s local transit module.
Official sources added that different departments of the RRTS project will conduct their tests during the trial run. Thereafter, an integrated test of all the systems will take place before the final safety clearance is given for going ahead with passenger operations.
“With the trial run phase nearing, the work for five RRTS stations on the priority stretch is also being expedited and is over 60% complete. These five stations will become fully operational when the priority section starts. Once the trial runs end, the fares will also be rolled out,” Vats added.
The total cost of the 25-station project, located in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, is estimated at Rs. 30,274 crores.
