More Metro trial runs from Magadi Rd to Mysuru Rd

The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) is all set to take more trains from the underground route for trial runs on the elevated stretch of Reach 2 (Magadi Road to Mysuru Road), in an effort to open it to the public by July.

The first underground trial run was conducted in March. On Monday, the train was successfully tested for running at the maximum speed. On Tuesday, two or three more trains will be transported through the underground route starting from the Cubbon Park station.

Going by the progress of work between Magadi Road and Mysuru Road stations, the BMRCL plans to write to the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) for approval to start commercial operations, which are likely to happen in July.

“Work is progressing at a very fast pace on this stretch. The safety certificates for fire and construction have already been issued by the competent authorities. Two to three more trains will be transported through the underground route to conduct the trials on both sides of the tracks simultaneously. Thereafter, we will apply for CRS trials by June 20,” BMRCL Managing Director Pradeep Singh Kharola told Deccan Herald.

In March this year, the BMRCL had transported coaches for the first time through the underground tunnel between Cubbon Park, Vidhana Soudha, Sri M Visvesvaraya and City railway stations, and thereafter on the elevated section till Magadi Road and beyond.

The objective was to transport the coaches to be run on the Magadi Road-Mysuru Road stretch which is elevated and does not have a depot nearby. Safety of the tunnel was also tested at the same time.

Before taking the coaches through the tunnel, the BMRCL took a gauge measuring the size of the coach and monitoring it every five to ten metres to mark any infringes in the tunnel or any brackets on its walls on either side that brush against the gauge.

The coach was taken through the same route only after it was found that the gauge had safely travelled the distance. The underground stretch from Cubbon Park to Magadi Road stations is in the process of electrification. Trials on the stretch will begin only after the entire track is electrified. Until then, the underground route will be used only to transport coaches to other elevated sections on Phase I, according to Metro officials.
DH News Service