Delhi Metro inducts new broad gauge train

New Delhi, Sept 25 (ANI): Delhi Metro has got an advanced train to its existing fleet. The new broad gauge train, that was rolled out today, is the first of the Phase-II project.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) Managing Director Dr. E Sreedharan and other officials took the maiden journey by the new posh and less noisy train from Central Secretariat to Jehangirpuri.

"Delhi metro rail has introduced the first new series of trains into service today. We are going to get 83 train sets from German-based Bombardier. Out of which, nine trains have already arrived. The first train after undergoing all the trials and testing has been commissioned today," said Sreedharan.

The train has many additional features such as external side display on each car indicating the destination station, digital route maps on each door, heating and humidity control functions. The driver will be able to monitor passengers activities through CCTV camera installed in each car.

India will soon be self-sufficient in manufacturing metro trains, which so far have been imported from Germany.

"The train that has been introduced today is one of those trains airlifted from Germany. After nine trains received from Germany, the remaining trains will be produced from a factory setup by Bombardier at a village called Sawari near Baroda," he added.

The Delhi metro project, which has set an example of completing its projects much ahead of deadlines and with precision, has, however, seen a couple of accidents as well.

A Delhi Metro train with 13 commuters on board derailed on September 12 at Yamuna Bank station in East Delhi. This was the second such incident after a train derailed at Dwaraka station in West Delhi.

There was no casualty in both incidents. Investigations have revealed that both accidents were due to 'human error'.

"In both the cases, it was a question of human error. In Dwaraka incident, the driver passed the signal at danger. He made two three mistakes there. In case of Yamuna Bank, the track was attended by a team headed by a junior engineer and instead of raising the outer rail on a curve they raised the inner rail. And then because it caused a level difference, the accident took place. That is again a serious human error," he added. (ANI)