As part of the upcoming phase 2 of the Chennai Metro Rail System, driverless trains will operate for the first time in 2026 on the Ponamala-Powerhouse stretch, which covers 118.9 km of the city.
As of now, there are four-mentor trains running on line 1; Additionally, there will be three three-coach trains on Line 2, followed by six.
An official stated, "The coaches will be connected to the train once they arrive individually." After that, traction testing, train control, management system, passenger information systems, brake system, and other static and dynamic tests would be performed on the train. These tests will begin at Poonamallee depot within the tracks. The delivery of signalling systems will be followed by system integration and further train inspection to identify any glitches or failures. The exact procedure would take between 10 and 12 months to complete.
“As the Poonamallee-Powerhouse stretches a larger section of the corridor for 26.1 km, CMRL has ordered 26 driverless trains to run the stretch.
Phase 1 trains can't run on phase 2 because the design, control, and signalling systems are different. Additionally, the driverless train model and colour for phase 2 have not yet been confirmed. A few additional sets were expected to arrive in October and November. However, the delivery of the first set is already scheduled for August. Before the trains are put into use, they will be certified by the Research Designs and Standards Organization (RDSO).
