First RRTS train likely to reach Gzb this month
GHAZIABAD: The country’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) train-set with six coaches is ready at Savli plant in Gujarat and is likely to arrive at Ghaziabad’s Duhai depot this month, said officials of the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCTCR).
The RRTS project is pegged at ₹30,274 crore. The 82-km long route is likely to get commissioned in March, 2025. A part of the route, about 17km in Ghaziabad (Sahibabad to Duhai), is being developed as a 17km priority section and is likely to commence operations by March next year.
“The first train-set has been readied at Savli plant and the coaches will be shipped to Ghaziabad this month. Once the coaches get assembled here at Duhai depot, the train will go through rigorous tests for about six months and thereafter, the trials of the train will begin on the 17km priority section in Ghaziabad,” said Puneet Vats, chief public relations officer of NCRTC.
Officials said the RRTS trains are the first regional transit system in the country, which, if the trials and the tests are successful, may run at a speed of 180kmph on elevated as well as underground sections between Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut.
“Apart from high speed, we are also attempting the European Train Control System 2 (ETCS-2) for signalling. The aerodynamic design is also a firstof-its-kind feature that we have adopted for the train. We are also trying to make provisions for luggage space in coaches and a premium coach in the RRTS train. All this will require comprehensive testing and trial before the train is rolled out for passenger operations,” said Vats.
The ETCS-2 is a radio-based system through which the train continuously sends data of its direction and location to the control centre. A control centre for the RRTS project is being developed at Duhai depot.
Different tests will be conducted in six months to check the safety, speed and synchronisation of operations through simulators and test tracks of the trains. The manufacturing facility at Savli will deliver total 210 cars, which are being developed as part of the Central government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Officials said the first trainset is being delivered in less than two years despite the Covid19 pandemic, which posed many challenges. The contract for development of trains and coaches was awarded in August, 2020. The RRTS trains will have premium coaches with 60 seats while the standard coaches will have 70 seats. In all, a six coach RRTS train will be able to ferry 1,750 passengers, which also includes the standing capacity.