Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRC) and Bombardier Transportation are celebrating the launch of the metro’s new Line 7.
Equipped with the BOMBARDIER CITYFLO 650 driverless rail control technology, commuters will be able to make the 22-km trip from Majlis Park to South Campus, significantly reducing journey time compared to travel by road.
The line’s opening was inaugurated by India’s Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Mangu Singh, Managing Director, Delhi Metro.
Delhi Metro signalling executive director Navneet Kaushik commented: “The start of services on this first section of the fully-automated line is a major milestone in our expansion of public transportation in Delhi. Once completed this line will ease pressure on the existing network as it will interchange at 11 stations with other Metro lines, out of which five will be available with opening of this section. Line 7 will transform travel options across our capital city.”
Bombardier Transportation Rail Control Solutions India head Rasmi R Ray added: “It is an exciting moment to see this important metro line start operation with our proven CITYFLO 650 rail control technology. Our metro cars on Lines 2, 3 and 4 and signalling on Lines 5 and 6 are already safely moving around 1.5 million passengers daily and we look forward to continuing our successful relationship of over 10 years to support DMRC in its expansion of Delhi’s metro network.”
On completion, Line 7, known as the Pink Line, will run in a circular route from Majlis Park to Shiv Vihar Station, alongside the city’s Ring Road. The 59-km, 38-station line will be the network’s longest and will connect with all six of the DMRC network’s existing lines.
CITYFLO 650 communications-based train control (CBTC) uses modern radio networks and has been proven to operate in the full range of train operating modes, including driverless.
It delivers safety, capacity and reliability as well as centralised train supervision and reduced maintenance costs. Trains on Line 7 will be able to operate at speeds of up 85 km/hr and with a maximum peak-time frequency of just over one and half minutes.
Bombardier is actively collaborating in the Make in India program by delivering rail vehicles, products and solutions that are developed locally, for both Indian and foreign markets.
Bombardier has been delivering rail signalling in India for over 30 years and is DMRC’s largest signalling supplier. Delhi Metro Lines 5 and 6 are equipped with its CITYFLO 350 semi-automatic solution.
In February, the last of the 776 BOMBARDIER MOVIA metro cars entered passenger service on the Delhi Metro network. A total of 776 metro cars have been ordered by Delhi Metro from 2007, making it one of the largest metro fleets for Bombardier globally.