India: NCRTC, the passenger operator of Delhi region, has unveiled the head car of the first of 40 EMUs to be built at the Alstom plant in Savli, India, at the Ghaziabad depot. The contract also involves the company’s site in Manja, where traction systems and electrical equipment are manufactured. It is stated that the level of rolling stock localisation in accordance with the requirements of the state program Make in India exceeds 80%.
The electric trains are expected to operate on the Delhi-Meerut urban rail line as part of the development of the RRTS rapid transit system. NCRTC reports that 6 cars of the first EMU are in various stages of final assembly, and preparations are underway for operational testing of both the train itself and all of its cars individually. According to the operator, the rolling stock will include cars of different classes of service: economy class, premium class and a separate car for women. Alstom plans to start deliveries this summer, so that trains will start running on the first section of the line in 2024.
Inside the salon. Source: NCRTC
The contract for the supply of these trains in May 2020 was received by Bombardier Transportation, which was taken over by Alstom at the beginning of last year. It involves the delivery of 30 six-car suburban electric trains and 10 three-car metro trains for $340 mln USD, as well as their maintenance for 15 years. In addition, the option to supply additional 90 cars and extend the maintenance of equipment for another two years is also included. Alstom is responsible for supplying the signalling systems for the project, too. The rolling stock was developed at Bombardier’s Indian Engineering Center in Hyderabad and its design was unveiled in September 2020.
The suburban line Delhi-Meerut with a gauge of 1676 mm and a length of 82 km will pass through the most densely populated areas of the Indian capital district. It is assumed that trains will be able to speed up to 180 km/h, making this line the fastest in the country. It will also be India’s first rapid transit line with a 5-10 minute interval.
Driver’s cab. Source: NCRTC
Alstom has six production sites in India (Savli, Manja, Madhepur, Coimbatore, Kolkata, Sri City), as well as three engineering centers (Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai). In addition to deliveries for the RTTS project, Alstom also has major contracts in India for the production of locomotives (800 electric locomotives for the national railway company Indian Railways) and metro cars (in particular, 248 units for Mumbai, 201 units for Kanpur).
