Ogle at Namma Metro train in July

Ogle at Namma Metro train in July
S Praveen Dhaneshkar, Bangalore, May 12, DH News Service:

Come July, Bangaloreans can get a glimpse of what the train coach of the ‘Namma Metro’ would actually look like.

According to sources in the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), the mock-up (model) of the train is nearing completion and would be shipped down to Bangalore from Korea in the first week of July.

“BMRCL will have a model train coach displayed for public viewing as early as July 2010. We would select a prominent public space, where the exact replica of the coach would be placed for public viewing. It could go on display either on MG Road or at the Baiyappanahalli depot. We would want the public to get an opportunity to have a glimpse and get a feel of what the completed train would actually look like,” said a source.

A consortium led by PSU major Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) and Japanese conglomerate, the Mitsubishi Group, and Hyundai Rotem, a Korean manufacturer of rolling stock have won the bid to design and manufacture a total of 150 metro train coaches for the Bangalore Metro project at an estimated cost of Rs 1672.50 crores.

While, Mitsubishi would supply the traction for the coaches, Rotem would supply components and BEML would integrate, test and commission the coaches. The first train set of three cars/coaches that would ply in the City is expected to be shipped from Korea in October 2010 and the test/trial run is expected to be conducted in November 2010 on Reach 1 (Baiyappanahalli to Chinnaswamy Cricket stadium). The train would be the second metro system in the country to operate on a standard gauge (1,435 mm) system and will consist of three coaches (2.88 m wide). It can accommodate a total of upto 1000 passengers.

“The coaches will be light weight modern coaches and will be later augmented to six. The carrying capacity of a six coach train will then be 2068 passengers. The coaches are completely built with stainless steel shells, are air-conditioned and have self-closing doors,” said a BMRCL official.