Chennai, Oct. 27 -- Alstom's driverless Metropolis trains have commenced passenger services on Corridor 4 of Chennai Metro Phase 2, marking a significant development in the city's urban transport network. The service connects Poonamallee Bypass with Light House through a 26 km route and 28 stations.
The corridor includes 18 elevated and 10 underground stations. It is intended to improve connections between residential, commercial and cultural centres while providing commuters with a faster and more sustainable alternative to road transport.
Alstom has completed manufacturing 36 Metropolis trainsets, comprising 108 cars, for the corridor. Designed at the company's engineering centre in Bengaluru and manufactured at its Sri City facility in Andhra Pradesh, the trains are configured for fully driverless operations at speeds of up to 80 kmph. The final trainset is scheduled for delivery by the end of October 2026.
Each three-car trainset can accommodate up to 1,000 passengers and includes air-conditioning, regenerative braking, CCTV cameras, real-time passenger information displays and dedicated spaces for women and persons with disabilities. One entire car has two-thirds of its space reserved for women. The exterior design draws inspiration from Bharatanatyam mudras, while platform-screen patterns inside the trains incorporate Tamil Nadu's traditional kolam art.
The contract, awarded in 2023 and valued at €124 mn, covers the design, manufacture, supply, testing and commissioning of the trainsets, as well as driver training for Chennai Metro Rail personnel. Alstom has supported Chennai Metro since 2010, supplying 208 Metro cars, signalling and power systems for Phase 1, which spans 54 km across two corridors. The company is also preparing to manufacture 32 additional driverless trainsets, comprising 96 cars, ordered in 2025, with production scheduled to begin at its Sri City facility.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.