Chennai Metro Phase 2 Milestone: 62 Driverless Trains Arriving, First Train In September

Chennai Metro is set to enter a new era with the introduction of driverless trains on its Phase 2 corridor, a significant milestone in the city's public transportation system. According to a report by Daily Thanthi, 62 driverless metro trains are currently under production in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, with the project progressing rapidly.

Metro Railway officials have announced that the first of these driverless trains, consisting of three cars, will be delivered to the Poonamallee workshop in September. Once there, it will be handed over to the Metro Rail Corporation and is expected to begin operations on the elevated track between Poonamallee and Kodambakkam Power House on the fourth corridor.

The introduction of these driverless trains marks a major technological advancement for Chennai Metro. The new trains, unveiled by Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) in February, are equipped with modern features designed to enhance passenger comfort and safety. These include perch seats for standing passengers, CCTV cameras both inside and outside the train, charging sockets for phones and laptops, grab handles at a lower height for women, dedicated spaces with long-press buttons for wheelchair users, and LCD screens displaying real-time route maps and entertainment.

In addition to the trains themselves, CMRL is planning to build a double elevated depot in Nookampalayam, near Sholinganallur, to service and maintain these driverless trains as part of Phase 2. The depot will be located approximately 700 meters from the Sholinganallur Lake II station on the Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) metro line. This facility will become the third depot for the 116.1 km Phase 2 expansion, complementing the depots currently under construction at Madhavaram and Poonamallee.

Officials have indicated that the Phase 2 lines, along with the two depots, are expected to be operational between 2025 and 2028. The new Nookampalayam depot, similar to the one at Wimco Nagar, will have an upper level designed for use during the rainy season, ensuring that operations continue smoothly regardless of weather conditions.

The third depot is anticipated to service trains operating on Corridor-3, which runs from Madhavaram Milk Colony to Siruseri Sipcot. However, this facility may not be required until a year or two after the Phase 2 lines are commissioned, as more trains will be needed to accommodate increasing passenger numbers.

For now, stabling lines are planned at Siruseri Sipcot, extending the elevated tracks to park 12 to 15 trains overnight after daily operations conclude, ensuring that services can start efficiently the next day. An elevated wash plant is also planned to clean the trains, maintaining the high standards expected by commuters.