Alstom Begins Manufacturing Of Trains For India's 1st Rapid Rail Corridor
French multinational rolling stock manufacturer Alstom began the manufacturing of modern, commuter and transit trains for the country's very first regional rapid transit system (RRTS) corridor between Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut. With this, the country will adopt the European Train Control System or ETCS in mainline railways for the very first time with the first phase of the regional rapid transit network in the national capital region (NCR). (Also Read: Alstom Wins Delhi-Meerut Rapid Rail's Contract For Signalling, Telecommunications )
In May 2020, Alstom won a contract to design, build, and deliver 210 regional commuter and transit train cars along with its comprehensive maintenance services for a period of 15 years. Alstom will deliver 30 regional commuter trainsets of six cars each and 10 intracity mass transit trainsets of three cars each, according to the contract.
The train sets for the regional rapid rail corridor are 100 per cent indigenously manufactured, with over 80 per cent localisation, keeping in line with the government's 'Make-in-India' guidelines, according to a statement shared by Alstom.
The trains are being manufactured in Alstom's factory situated in Savli, Gujarat. The factory will manufacture the car bodies, bogies, and undertake the train testing. The propulsion systems and electricals are being manufactured at the company's factory located in Maneja, Gujarat.
Earlier this year, the multinational rolling stock manufacturer won a contract worth €106 million to design, supply, and install the train control, signaling, as well as telecommunication system for the 82.15 km-long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut regional rapid rail corridor. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation Ltd. (NCRTC) - responsible for implementing the RRTS project, awarded the contract to Alstom in January 2021.
The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut rapid rail corridor is targeted to be ready for services by 2025. The semi high-speed train will operate on an indigenous ballastless track, suitable for supporting a high design speed of 180 km per hour and an operational speed of 160 km per hour.
Out of the 82 km long Delhi-Meerut rapid rail corridor, the priority section - 17 km-long Sahibabad-Duhai, has been targeted to be ready for commuters by 2023.
