What makes the trains for Bhopal and Indore metro so special?
Alstom, a global leader in sustainable mobility, is currently building 52 standard gauge Movia metro passenger trainsets of 3-car configuration each, with 15 years of comprehensive maintenance, for the Bhopal and Indore metro projects. The company is also installing the latest generation of Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling system as well as train control and telecommunication systems; each with seven years of comprehensive maintenance. The first trainset was delivered in record time of fourteen and a half months from the Notice to Proceed (NTP) to Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MPMRCL), in August 2023. The revenue service initiation is expected to commence in 2024.
These ultramodern, light-weight trains will operate at a top speed of 80 km/h, across the 31 km line in Bhopal with 30 stations and the 31.5 km line in Indore with 29 stations. As many as 27 of the 3-car configuration trainsets will be for Bhopal while 25 trainsets will be for Indore. The trains have a 50-passenger seating and 300 standing capacity. Highest standards of safety and security have been ensured with continuous CCTV surveillance and a direct communication channel with the train operator and the control centre, in case of distress. The intelligent CCTV features also include unattended object identification and empty train detection (passenger counting in emergency evacuation). The trains also have dedicated wheelchair space for specially-abled persons.
The Movia metro family offers the latest technology combined with proven and reliable components, and have been operational in numerous global cities, including London, Delhi, Stockholm, and Singapore. These air-conditioned cars are developed with a strong emphasis on eco-friendly design to eliminate hazardous substances providing a safer environment for passengers. The trains are powered with modern energy efficient propulsion systems with regenerative braking, making them a sustainable alternative to other modes of transport, thus reducing energy consumption. Features such as ambient lighting and smart light solutions further help in energy saving. Train Control and Management System (TCMS) has been adopted with an automatic track inspection system embedded to ensure error free and highspeed data transmission.
Bhopal and Indore have been recognised as smart cities in India, and the addition of metro will modernise the city infrastructure notably. Under the ‘Make in India’ campaign, these trainsets are being manufactured 100% indigenously at Alstom's state-of-the-art rolling stock manufacturing facility at Savli, Gujarat. These trains will ensure safe, reliable, efficient, and affordable mass transport system, and promote economic activity, while benefitting around 6 million citizens of Bhopal and Indore.
