Metro all set to land at IGI by Sept-end

NEW DELHI: The much-awaited Airport Express Line is all set to be opened for public use by September end. Trial runs on the 20-km long stretch have finally started with trains being run at an all-time high speed of 135 kmph, which is the fastest for any Metro in the country. The trial runs mark the completion of construction of the Line as all the structures are ready and the systems have been fitted.

So far, the trial runs are being carried out on an 11-km stretch of the Line between Dhaula Kuan and Dwarka sector 21 Metro stations. The section was chosen for the trial runs since it is comprised of both elevated and underground sections . It also has several sharp curves and bends on which movement of the highspeed train is being tested.
Over the next week, the trial runs will be extended to cover the rest of the Line too.

"Trains will be run on trial on the entire 20-km long Line from New Delhi Railway station to Dwarka sector 21 Metro station by the third week of September. We are planning to start commercial operations on the entire Line by the end of this month, much in time for the Commonwealth Games," said KP Maheshwari, director of Delhi Airport Metro Express (DAME) Pvt Ltd. DAME is a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure Limited, which will operate the Airport Line for Delhi Metro Rail Corporation ( DMRC) for the next 30 years.

The trial runs to check oscillation Emergency Braking Distance (EBD) were conducted on the trains last month to test the trains and systems for riding comfort and quality and also derailment as the trains will be running at very high speed. The testing for EBD were also done in wet conditions since a major portion of the Line is elevated and exposed to wet natural conditions like rain.

"The trials were conducted by Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) where high end instrumentation was done to measure the level of oscillations, ride comfort and quality. RDSO reported no major technical glitches. It showed excellent results on entire trials specifically with respect to ride comfort and ride quality tests,’’ said a spokesperson for Reliance Infrastructure, the concessionaire for the Line.

The concessionaire has already got six new trains to run on the Line, which have been stabled at the depot and are being used for the trial runs. The trains, manufactured by a Spanish company CAF, are also simultaneously undergoing testing.

The new Metro link will start from New Delhi Railway Station (NDRS) stopping at four stations — Shivaji Terminus, Dhaula Kuan, Delhi Aerocity and IGI airport — before reaching its destination at Dwarka sector 21. The Line has been modelled on the Heathrow Express in London and the Hong Kong Metro airport link.

For air travellers heading to IGI, airline and baggage check-in counters are being provided at the NDRS, Shivaji Terminus and Dhaula Kuan Metro stations. The fare has been kept at a maximum of Rs 150 till IGI airport and an additional Rs 30 to Dwarka, with a provision for monthly passes for airline staff and frequent fliers.