Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has secured a $431 million contract with Indian manufacturer BEML to supply 70 new three-car trains, a key development in the ongoing Phase 2 expansion of the city’s metro system. This order is part of CMRL’s efforts to enhance its metro fleet and improve the city’s public transportation network.
Key Details of the Contract
The contract covers the supply of 70 new trains, along with depot machinery, staff training, and a 15-year maintenance agreement. The trains will feature a 1435mm gauge configuration, with two driving motor cars and a central trailer car in each three-car set. The new fleet will operate under Automatic Train Operation (ATO) at Grade of Automation 4 (GoA4), ensuring more efficient, fully automated operation with minimal manual input.
Phase 2 Expansion and New Lines
These 70 trains will be deployed across three new lines being developed as part of the Phase 2 expansion of Chennai Metro. The project will add 118.9 kilometers of metro lines, with 76.3 kilometers of elevated track and 42.6 kilometers of underground track. The three new lines include:
- Line 3: Madhavaram to Sipcot (45.8 km)
- Line 4: Lighthouse to Poonamallee (26.1 km)
- Line 5: Madhavaram to Sholinganallur (47 km)
The expansion will significantly improve connectivity across the city and provide much-needed relief to Chennai’s congested roads.
Delivery and Maintenance Timeline
The first of the 70 new trains is expected to be delivered by January 2027, with the final units slated for delivery by April 2029. Once the trains are delivered, BEML will oversee their maintenance for the following 15 years, ensuring the trains operate efficiently throughout their lifecycle.
Shantanu Roy, Chairman and Managing Director of BEML, expressed his commitment to the project, saying, “We are committed to delivering metro coaches of unparalleled excellence, manufactured at our Bangalore rail complex, to meet the requirements of Chennai Metro.”
Advancing Automation in Public Transit
The inclusion of Grade of Automation 4 (GoA4) in these trains underscores Chennai Metro’s push toward smarter, more efficient transportation systems. ATO at GoA4 level ensures automated operations with high safety and reliability, which aligns with global trends in urban transit automation.
Conclusion
With this $431 million deal, Chennai Metro continues to strengthen its infrastructure, which is expected to transform the city’s public transportation system. The 70 new automated trains will help increase the capacity and efficiency of the metro network, making it a cleaner, faster, and more reliable option for millions of residents. This order with BEML is a critical step in the city’s broader goal to modernize its metro system and improve urban mobility for years to come.
