Trial runs for underground corridor on Line 3 of Mumbai Metro to start in August

Pacing up the operations of Mumbai Metro's Line 3, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (MMRCL) will be kickstarting trials in August this year. Reportedly, the trials will commence, once the prototype train for the Metro 3 underground Colaba-Bandra-Seepz corridor is received. The train is currently being manufactured in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh.

The prototype rake will cover a 2,000 km run during the initial trial, post which the second rake will arrive by November this year.

These trials will be carried out on a 3 km-long stretch between Marol Naka Metro station and a temporary facility of parking set up near the Marol-Maroshi road end. During the trial run, speed, oscillation and emergency break distance systems will be tested, along with testing of other systems.

As per the MMRCL officials, 31 train sets of eight coaches are being manufactured in Sri city in Andhra Pradesh. The delivery of the first prototype rake was scheduled to take place in 2020, however, due to COVID-19-induced restrictions and improper car shed facilities, the manufacture and delivery got delayed.

With plans of extensive trials scheduled ahead, MMRCL targets to complete the entire Metro Line 3 by 2023. These trains will have a passenger carrying capacity of up to 2,350 passengers and will operate on a 25 KV AC traction supply.