Chennai Metro News: First Driverless Train Set For Test Run Next Week

Chennai Metro is set to take a historic step with the test run of its first driverless train next week, with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin inaugurating the event.

Manufactured by Alstom and delivered to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) in Sricity last month, the driverless Unattended Train Operation (UTO) train set underwent rigorous testing before being transported to the Poonamallee depot on October 17.

The train will now undergo further evaluations on phase II tracks following the official inauguration, where CM Stalin will be joined by Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar.

A CMRL official told DTNext: "We have yet to confirm the exact date; it will likely happen next week,"

Afterward, the train will undergo comprehensive static and dynamic trials, along with statutory safety checks, ahead of operations on the priority Corridor 4, spanning from Light House to Poonamallee Bus Depot.

Chennai Metro's phase II project is projected to partially open between Poonamallee and Porur Junction by the end of 2025.

As part of this expansion, CMRL awarded a Rs 1,215.92-crore contract to Alstom to deliver 36 UTO train sets, each consisting of three cars.

On February 8, this year, the production of this train set started with the construction of the car body. The manufacturing process at Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, involved several stages, from building the car body to installing critical equipment.