KMRC conducts underground tests in Kolkata East West Metro corridor

Kolkata (Urban Transport News): The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) Limited conducted first underground trial test of a metro train on Kolkata East-West Metro corridor from Phoolbagan to Sealdah on Friday afternoon. It was a significant step ahead for the Kolkata East-West project that will connect Salt Lake Sector V to Howrah Maidan through the Hooghly. The trial ruin was witnessed by the Engineers and officials who were on board the train celebrated the completion of the test with high-fives and fist pumps.

The trial was carried out to check the design defects in the tunnel and the alignment between the train doors and the platform. The first phase of East-West Metro corridor will connect a distance of 5.5 km from Sector V and Stadium stations with six stations and the stretch is expected to be operational by July 2019. The trial run of a train was conducted in underground from Phoolbagan till Howrah Maidan. As per the information shared by the KMRC officials, the train services will be extended up to Phoolbagan by the end of this year. A large number of commuters would benefit when it is connected till Phoolbagan.

Before Friday, all trial runs of the Kolkata East West Metro had been on the elevated stretch between Sector V and Salt Lake Stadium stations. The route goes underground from Phoolbagan till Howrah Maidan. The finishing work is still underway at the station. Platform Screen Doors (PSD) have already been set up along the platform but they are yet been synchronised with the train operations. The platform screen doors were opened manually during trial run conducted on Friday. Talking with the press reporters, a KMRC Engineer said,

The trial run had two primary objectives. We wanted to check the underground design of the tracks, tunnel and other infrastructure — check for infringements, mismatch in alignments, sharp edges and similar problems. There was none. We also wanted to see if the gap between the platform and train doors matched the design. The gap is 120m, like we had estimated.

According to the KMRC, the six-coach train arrived at the station from the Salt Lake depot at 12.30 pm and after picking up some officials, the train proceeded through the underground tunnel and stopped 500 metre short of Sealdah metro station. The train switched tracks at a crossover point and returned to Phoolbagan metro station. After than it went beyond the underground tunnel to the elevated stretch that leads to the Stadium station.

From there, the train again entered the underground section and reached Phoolbagan station, where the officials got off around 1.20 pm. The trial was conducted at the speed of less than 15 km/h. It is pertinent to mention here that the trial run was also the first time in 24 years that a Metro in Calcutta entered a new underground station. The last trial was conducted in 1995 before MG Road Station opened.