Chennai Metro on Thursday (October 17) received the first driverless trainset for the Chennai Metro Rail Phase II project from the French multinational Alstom, a global leader in smart and sustainable mobility. Chennai Metro had placed an order to Alstom in February 2024 to manufacture 36 trains, each consisting of three cars.
These trains are designed to operate on a 26-kilometer corridor that connects Poonamallee Bypass to Light House, covering 28 stations—18 of which are elevated and 10 underground.
Efficient, eco-friendly and comfortable
The new driverless trains are expected to provide passengers with an efficient, eco-friendly, and comfortable travel experience, according to a company statement. The trains have been designed in Bengaluru.
The trainsets, built at Alstom’s facility in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, are part of the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives. Valued at €124 million, the project also includes training Chennai Metro personnel in the operation and maintenance of the trains.
In 2010, Alstom supplied 208 metro cars for Phase I of the Chennai Metro Rail project. With the recent delivery of the first driverless trainset for Phase II, the company reaffirms its commitment to revolutionising Chennai’s mobility infrastructure.