Metro coaches all set to roll for trial

The much-awaited project is set to take off with three coaches arriving in the city from South Korea. Now all Bangaloreans have to do, is to wait till the year end

The much-awaited project is set to take off with three coaches arriving in the city from South Korea. Now all Bangaloreans have to do, is to wait till the year end

After enduring a long journey all the way from South Korea, three coaches designed for the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) arrived in city last night. However, of the three, the Driving Motor Car (DMC) was the first to be delivered to the Bypanahalli station yesterday afternoon while the other two were stationed at KR Puram depot.


u00a0 Wait is over: One of the three coaches that arrived in the city from
u00a0u00a0South Korea last night. Pic/Sanjay MD

This reporter visited the test track and found that the protective covering had been retained to avoid any physical damage to the coaches before the trials are completed in the coming days. The Motor Car which can ferry 330 passengers was joined by the two trailer cars early morning yesterday, and can hold a further 345 passengers.

Amit Gupta, deputy commercial manager for Hyundai Rotem, said, "The three coaches that are now in Bangalore make one whole set once put together. We've left the covers on so that it doesn't get dirty." He added, "The BMRCL will inspect it in the next seven days to see how it functions."u00a0

Gupta added, "By the end of this year we will deliver another 12 sets, and we'll provide more if need be. About 45 people can comfortably sit in the coaches while the others can stand, since trains were only meant to travel short distances."

However, while the inspection of the coaches still pending, the BMRCL is yet to procure truck-mounted hydraulic platforms which are used to mount the coaches onto the platform where repairs can be conducted.
Yeshwath Chavan, PRO, BMRCL, said, "A series of tests will be conducted in the depot which will then be tested on the main lines for 20 days. If all goes well we can expect the trains to be running by December end."
He added, "Our deadline is not December 15, I don't know who said that. We have always maintained that it would be the year's end or another 15 days after that."

However, while the inspection of the coaches are still pending, the BMRCL is yet to procure truck mounted hydraulic platforms which are used to mount the coaches onto the platform where repairs can be conducted. The BMRCL has invited suppliers who produce the hydraulic platforms to contact them by November 8 after the coaches an be tested on the main lines.