Chennai Metro to start driverless trains by 2026

The Chennai Metro Rail (CMRL) has planned to initiate its Phase II project, which involves the operation of driverless trains at an estimated cost of Rs 61,843 crore. The first driverless service is scheduled to be launched in 2026.The CMRL plans to procure 138 three-coach driverless trains as part of the Phase II project. These trains will be acquired through three separate contracts for three designated corridors: Madhavaram to SIPCOT (corridor 3), Light House to Poonamallee (corridor 4), and Madhavaram to Sholinganallur (corridor 5).A CMRL official has told that the driverless trains will undergo extensive testing for the duration of one year before being deployed to serve the public in Chennai. The designs of the train are currently in the finalisation stage and are expected to be completed within a month. The initial batch of trains, comprising 26 units, will operate between Poonamallee and Porur. Delivery of all these trains is scheduled for the middle of next year.