L&T awards rolling stock contract to Hyundai Rotem

The L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Ltd on Tuesday announced the award of the Hyderabad Metro Rail Rolling Stock Contract to Hyundai Rotem Company.

The Letter of Award was signed and exchanged by VB Gadgil, chief executive & managing director, LTMRHL and Hyung-Wook Kim, director - rail business, Asia, CIS & Oceania, Hyundai Rotem Company, Seoul.

 A total of 171 cars (57 trains) have been ordered for a total value of Rs 1800 crore approximately.

 The rolling stock will be delivered nine months prior to the commissioning of each stage as per the construction schedule (Stage 1 -Nagole to Mettuguda, Stage 2 - Miyapur to S R Nagar, Stage 3 - Mettuguda to Begumpet, Stage 4 - Begumpet to Shilparamam, Stage 5 - S R Nagar to L B Nagar, Stage 6 - JBS to Falaknuma).

 Speaking on the occasion, Gadgil said the rolling stock order was awarded to Hyundai Rotem Company after examining various rolling stock manufactures operating in metros in India and abroad.

How will the trains be?

The specification for standard gauge rolling stock is based on light weight stainless steel/aluminum-bodied three car formations, having a trailer car between two motored driving cars.

 Internal wide gangways will provide ease of passenger movement and assist load distribution.

 Trains will be air-conditioned throughout with designated space for differently-abled persons.

 LCD screen type route map indicators over all the doors and LCD TVs at suitable locations inside cars will be provided for infotainment.

 The trains will have foolproof safety features and on board fire & smoke detection as well.

 These trains will also have CCTV cameras in and outside the cars, mobile and laptop charging sockets, better humidity control, microprocessor controlled brakes, secondary air suspension for better ride comfort and will be capable of maintaining an average speed of 33 km/h and a maximum operating speed of 80 km/h.

 The trains will be using regenerative electric braking thereby converting the momentum into electrical energy and feeding back to power supply system while braking.

 This will reduce the energy requirement from the grid.

 The maximum capacity per three car train will be approximately 965 including longitudinal seating, giving a high proportion of the floor area to standing passengers.

Each car will have longitudinal seats for approximately 40 persons. The 171 cars for 57 trains will be procured for the first phase of the project.  Although with many automated functions, the ATO enabled trains will be under driver control.