Alstom starts manufacturing trains for Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor
France-based rolling stock manufacturer Alstom has started manufacturing trains for the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor.
The country will adopt the European Train Control System (ETCS) in mainline railways for the first time in the national capital region (NCR) with the first phase of the regional rapid transit network.
In May last year, Alstom secured the contract to design, build and deliver 210 regional commuter and transit train cars, along with 15 years of comprehensive maintenance services.
According to the contract, Alstom will produce 30 regional commuter train sets of six cars individually and ten intra city mass transit train sets of three cars individually.
The company told the media that the train sets for the regional rapid rail corridor are 100% indigenously manufactured, with over 80% localisation, keeping in line with the government's 'Make-in-India' guidelines.
The trains are being manufactured in Alstom's factory located in Savli, Gujarat. The company's factory will produce the car bodies, bogies, and undertake the testing of trains. The company's factory in Maneja, Gujarat, will manufacture the propulsion systems and electricals.
Earlier this year, the company won a contract to design, supply, and install the train control, signaling, as well as telecommunication system for the 82.15 km-long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut regional rapid rail corridor. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation Ltd (NCRTC) is accountable for executing the RRTS project, awarded to Alstom in January 2021.
The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut rapid rail corridor is estimated to be available for services by 2025. The semi high-speed train will run on an indigenous ballastless track, suitable for supporting a high design speed of 180 km per hour and an operational speed of 160 km per hour.
The priority section of 17 km-long Sahibabad-Duhai, out of the 82 km long Delhi-Meerut rapid rail corridor, has been estimated to be completed by 2023 for commuters.
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