India’s First Regional Rapid Transit System Train: First Look Unveiled

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) on Friday unveiled the first look of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut regional rapid transit system (RRTS) in New Delhi. The regional rapid transit system will be the first of its kind in the country. It entire route will be 82-km long with a design speed of 180 kmph.

Senior officials of the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and Managing Director NCRTC, Vinay Kumar Singh were present at the event. The prototype is scheduled to roll off the production line in 2022. The ministry stated that the project improves the quality of life in the National Capital Region. As per the ministry, the project will also create economic opportunities by reducing air pollution and carbon footprints.

The NCRTC, a joint sector company of Central government and states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, is mandated to implement the RRTS project across the national capital region, ensuring a balanced and sustainable urban development through better connectivity and access.

According to NCRTC officials, the corridor will have 24 stations and the trains will reduce travel time from Delhi to Meerut to 55 minutes and daily expected ridership is eight lakh passengers. The other two corridors in the phase-I of the project are Delhi-Gurugram-Alwar and Delhi-Panipat.

Features of Regional Rapid Transit System Trainfor Passengers

• RRTS train coaches will have transverse 2×2 seats.

• Optimized aisle width with grab handles and rails for a comfortable journey for standing passengers, overhead luggage rack, mobile/laptop charging sockets, adequate leg room and on board Wi-Fi.

• Double glazed, tempered large safety glass windows that offer passengers a panoramic view of the outside

• Equipped with public announcement & display system, dynamic route map display, infotainment display, along with emergency communication facilities. The train is designed for modern visual and audio announcements which orient passenger with information about next stop, final destination, etc.

• Automatic plug-in type wide doors reducing air-friction and noise.

• CCTV, fire & smoke detector, fire extinguisher and door indicator.

• Universally accessible- Dedicated wheelchair space located near to the train doorway for easy access.

• Proven light weight and compact propulsion system with high reliability and performance requirements.

• Innovative Train Control Monitoring System (TCMS) technology, as well as its predictive and condition-based monitoring features, which will enhance the fleet’s performance by providing extensive train-to-ground diagnostics.

• Designed keeping in mind high-acceleration and high-deceleration that the train needs to undergo given the maximum operational speed of 160kmph and stations at every 5-10km.

• Trains would run under Automatic Train Operation (ATO) to provide smooth ride with precise stopping accuracy and will also save energy.

• These modern trains will have push buttons for selective opening of doors on need basis. This eliminates the requirement of opening all doors at every station, thus leading to energy saving.

• RRTS trains will also have business class (one coach per train) with spacious, comfortable and reclining seats which will be accessible through a special lounge at the platform-level.

• A food automatic vending machine will be installed in the business coach.

• One coach in every train will be reserved for women passengers as well.

• Given the high-speed train operations, all RRTS stations will have Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) for safety of the passengers. The train doors will be integrated with PSDs.

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