The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, (DMRC), the executing agency for the Kochi Metro project, is bracing up to extend trial run of the first Metro train up to Edappally by March 18.
The train had successfully conducted its first trial run in the 3.50-km-long Muttom-Kalamassery corridor a week ago, touching speed of up to 10 kms per hour. The aim was to ensure that there was adequate clearance for the train and to be on the lookout for flaws in the alignment of track and third rail from which power is sourced. The train would cover a total of 6 kms in the trial slated up to Edappally.
“We have decided to focus more on test runs on the 1-km-long track within the coach-maintenance depot at Muttom, than ply along the viaduct. This is because all ongoing works like laying tracks, installing third rail, and signalling and telecommunication equipment will suffer for a day or two whenever trial run is conducted over the viaduct. Last week’s trial run held up these works for about three days since 3.50 kms of the metro viaduct had to be cleared of workers and machinery.”
Trial run is ideally conducted after installation of signalling and telecommunication systems. More so since Kochi Metro would depend on Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) which is aimed at ensuring unmanned train operations. Software and other systems are being perfected at the depot to operate the train at up to 60 kms per hour speed along the test track on the premises. The train can attain speed of up to 80 kms per hour, while the average commuting speed would be 35 kms per hour due to location of stations at a distance of every kilometre.
Speaking about delay in laying tracks, metro sources said that the track-laying contractor IRCON was handed over completed portions of the viaduct in October 2015, though this should have been done in March 2015. Moreover, the agency has to be given 2-km-long viaduct at a stretch. Delay in handing over land, strikes etc., resulted in many stretches being 500 metres or even lesser. However, IRCON has deployed four batches of workers to speed up works.
The trials would be extended up to Palarivattom by May and up to Maharaja’s College Ground on M.G. Road by July so as to commission the 18-km-long metro by November 1. Extensive trial runs are crucial to obtain safety certificate of the Commissioner for Railway Safety.
Referring to civil works, metro sources said that a contracting firm entrusted with works in the city has deployed 700 people instead of the mandatory 1,000.
This is because of inordinate delay in widening Jos Junction-Ernakulam Jn. railway station-Manorama Jn. corridor.
