Chennai Metro Rail’s phase II project will have 210 coaches, comprising of a combination of three-coach and six-coach trains, to run the 52 km that will be built initially.
Chennai Metro Rail’s phase II project is estimated to cost ₹69,180 crore and will have 126 stations, covering 119 km. Of this network, 52 km will be constructed first.
According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), the stretches that will be built initially include Madhavaram to CMBT and Madhavaram to SIPCOT and to operate these two stretches, 210 coaches will be needed. “We cannot categorically say how many trains will be needed now; this is because we have both three-coach and six-coach trains. We know we will need 210 coaches initially but we will decide later how many three-coach and six-coach trains will be required,” an official said.
No special class coaches
Also, the trains in phase II project may not have a separate special class coaches; one coach will be divided to serve as ladies compartment and as special class, another official said. They have been contemplating to make a separation in a coach — to serve one half as ladies coach and the other as a special class coach; the other two remaining coaches will be general compartments.
“The trains for phase II project will be built with Japanese technology and made in India; we have so far been thinking of making a split in a compartment and turn one half as a special class and another as ladies coach. We will soon make a decision,” the official said.
An Indian company and a Japanese firm will come together and manufacture trains for phase II project in India; but only after the tender process is over and the contract is awarded, it will be known which two firms will come together for this project.
The Chennai Metro Rail’s phase I project has four-coach trains and were manufactured by a French firm Alstom; about 45 trains were bought for this project alone.