KOCHI:The trial run in the Kochi metro’s 5-km-long Palarivattom-Maharaja’s College Ground corridor began on Friday, with the train touching a top speed of 80 km per hour.
The trial runs during the initial days will focus on coaches, tracks, and the third traction from which power is sourced for operating trains. Integrated trials involving more than one train will be conducted from the first week of August when the installation of signalling and telecommunication (S&T) systems is expected to be over.
This will be followed by an inspection by the Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), after which the stretch will be opened for commercial operations by September-October, metro sources said.
The trial run on Friday started with a speed limit of 10 kmph, said a press release from Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL). It was increased by 10 kmph for every subsequent run. A total of 10 trial runs were conducted till 5 p.m. The trials will continue till 8 p.m. along the up and down tracks. They will resume at 7 a.m. on Saturday.
KMRL Managing Director Elias George; Director (Projects) Thiruman Archunan, and DMRC Kochi Project Director Dani Thomas were among those who were on board in the first trial run. The trials will be over on Sunday, with a quality check of the train ride and modern instrumentations on the stretch.
Station work
Apart from completing the installation of S&T equipment, the final lap of work on metro stations too is under way on the 5-km stretch. The stations are at International Stadium, Kaloor; Lissie Hospital Jn.; MG Road (near Chennai Silks), and Maharaja’s College Ground.
A total of 11 trains are required to conduct operations in the 18-km-long Aluva-Maharaja’s Ground metro corridor. As many as 10 trains have arrived so far, and six of them are engaged in regular operations on the 13-km Aluva-Palarivattom stretch.
More passengers
Mr. George told the media here on Friday that the metro would attract more regular passengers once it is extended to Maharaja’s College Ground. Efforts are on to commission the corridor before Kochi hosts the FIFA Under-17 matches.
Sreedharan visit
Meanwhile, DMRC Principal Advisor E. Sreedharan visited the agency’s office and reviewed the progress of work in the metro corridor on Friday.
