Metro unveils faster, wifi-enabled trains that run without drivers

Commuters will soon be able to experience it with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) launching new swanky ‘driverless trains’ that will accommodate passengers end to end.

Ever tempted to see how the tracks and approaching stations appear to Metro drivers?

Delhi Metro’s first driverless train at the Mukundpur DMRC Depot. The trial runs will begin in July. (Vipin Kumar/HT Photo)

Commuters will soon be able to experience it with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) launching new swanky ‘driverless trains’ that will accommodate passengers end to end.

Trial runs will start in July but for one-and-half years, the trains will operate with drivers.

The new trains will operate on the upcoming line 7 (Pink line: Majlis Park – Shiv Vihar) and 8 (Magenta: Janakpuri West – Botanical Garden) of Phase 3. The trial run is likely to start in July.

DMRC acquired the trains in 2015 from a Korea-based firm. The six-coach trains that were ferried to India via sea arrived at Gujarat’s Mundra port and were brought by road to Delhi on trailers.

DMRC has assembled 14 and will add 3-4 trains every month to take the total count to 86.

With change in design, the capacity of six-coach trains has been increased to 1,866 from 1,780 people per train.

“Construction of phase 3 has been more challenging. This time, bulk of the construction is taking place. In the last two phases, the corridors were primarily moving to the NCR areas. The quantum of underground construction (55 kms) is more than the last two phases. In terms of length, the volume of work in Phase 3 is almost equal to the combined construction length of the first two phases,” Singh added.