RailEnquiry

Chennai: CMRC is planning its first trial run of a four-car rake on a test track at the Koyambedu depot next month. The rake arrived from Brazil in June. The 800m track is ready and the overhead power cable will be installed by the end of the month. Power supply was provided to the electrical equipment at the depot on August 2.

“Laying of the tracks was completed on Monday. Installation of overhead power cables is going on. It is expected to be completed by the end of the month so that the train can be run on the track for trials by early next month,” said a senior official of Chennai metro rail.

The train will be tested on a range of parameters, including safety and speed, during the trial run. The train will be run at various speeds and the time taken at various levels, the signalling system and more will be checked and assessed. Trials will continue for a few months.

The test track is a permanent feature at the depot because new coaches will have to be tested as and when they are added to the fleet. Such tests are mandatory before coaches are inducted into the network.

After extensive tests, the trains will be run on the Koyambedu-St.Thomas Mount elevated line once construction is completed by end of the year.

As the coaches are being readied for tests, metro rail is speeding up laying of tracks between Koyambedu and Ekattuthangal on the Koyambedu-St Thomas Mount elevated line which is being built. The track has been laid from Koyambedu to Ashok Nagar and a few meters beyond, while preliminary work is going on to lay tracks up to Ekattuthangal.

Plinth concreting till Ekattuthangal has been completed and the rail is being readied. Work is on to install turnarounds where two tracks bifurcate. Construction of the rest of the elevated line is over Kathipara flyover and at some stretches between Alandur and St.Thomas Mount is continuing.