Metro Phase 3: Ride on driverless, faster trains

Taking yet another technological leap, the trains running on Delhi Metro’s Phase III network will be operated without a driver. Fourteen of these first-of-its-kind driverless trains have already been procured and stationed at the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s newly-constructed Mukundpur depot. In total 81 such swanky trains will be operated on the upcoming Majlis Park to Shiv Vihar and Janakpuri West to Botanical Garden corridors.

The six coach trains which will be commissioned for the Metro’s next phase are much more technologically advanced than those in operation at present. “Initially, the staff will be deployed for the operations of these trains. However, gradually after elaborate testing the staff will be withdrawn for unattended train operations. The testing period could go up to a year and the unattended train operations could be started by the end of next year,” DMRC chief Mangu Singh said.

He added that such technologically advanced trains, which are already in operation in countries such as Singapore, have been procured to reduce human intervention in train operations and ultimately maximise efficiency. “Train operators are not required to run these trains. The operations control centres of the Delhi Metro system will directly regulate their movement through sensors. A new signalling system will be brought into place for these trains,” he added.

All these trains will be six-coach trains with four motorised cars and two trailer cars. This will help in improving train speed and offer better acceleration and de-acceleration. The average speed of the new trains is also fractionally better at 35 kmph. Currently, the rolling stock’s average speed is 32 kmph.

For passenger comfort, the new trains will be more spacious and will be able to ferry more commuters during a single trip.