Bangalorean metro tests its first ‘green’ train

Metro connectivity is steadily becoming a reality with work on most parts of all reaches progressing. On Wednesday, Bangaloreans were given a reason to look forward to more Metro connectivity, with BMRCL testing its first ‘green train’, which will run on the North-South Corridor.

The train, which arrived at the Peenya depot in February, was supplied by the BRMM Consortium—comprising BEMP, Hyundai Rotem, Mitsubishi Corporation and Mitsubishi Electric Company.

The consortium had also supplied 21 sets of trains for the East-West Corridor (to the Baiyappanahalli depot). Three train sets have been provided for the North-South corridor out of 29 sets at the Peenya depot, which will cater to the North-South corridor.

The North-South corridor extends from Nagasandra to Puttanahalli, consisting of 25 stops and is called the ‘green line’.

A BMRCL statement said that each train for the corridor will be tested on the 1.2-km-long testing track at the Peenya depot.

According to UA Vasanth Rao, GM (finance), BMRCL, the organisation hopes to begin trials on the main line in a few months.

“Work is almost done and we hope that in the coming month or two, the work will be completed along this reach. We can then begin trials on the main line,” he said. Trials on the main line, along Reach 3, are expected to begin by December 2012.