Kolkata Metro Driverless Trains: Green and Purple Lines to Get Automated Operations, Routes, Features & Passenger Benefits

Kolkata Metro is gearing up to begin a revolutionary phase in public transportation by rolling out its driverless metro trains on the Green Line and Purple Line. The completion of the evaluation by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) puts Kolkata Metro on the map of launching one of India’s top public transport systems.

With this new upgrade, Kolkata will join the few cities that provide the Grade of Automation 4 (GoA-4) driverless metro service in India. It featuring sophisticated communication and control systems and a host of passenger safety features, these new trains will redefine the way people travel in the city.

Kolkata Metro to Launch Driverless Train Operations

Kolkata Metro has recently received significant support as the Railway Safety Commissioner (CRS) granted consent for driverless train operations on Green Line. Currently, preparations are in progress and other technical and operational arrangements are underway before commencing the passenger services.

With driverless operations, Kolkata becomes one among a few Indian cities along with Delhi and Bengaluru to have fully automated metro services.

With which Kolkata Metro lines entail driverless?

In the first phase of driverless operations for the following routes,

Green Line

• Route: Howrah Maidan – Salt Lake Sector V
• Length: Around 16.6 km
• Stations: 12

The Green Line is one of the important networks of the Kolkata Metro, joining the western and eastern parts of the city including India’s first underwater metro tunnel under the Hooghly River.

Purple Line

• Driverless services have also been finalized for the Purple Line making Kolkata Metro to extend its modernized auto-driven network.

What Is Driverless Metro Technology?

Driverless metro trains exist thanks to Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology, which is the highest form of automation that is known as Grade of Automation 4 (GoA-4).

This system allows trains to perform the following actions on their own,

• Speeding up
• Staying within safe speeds
• Slowing down
• Making stops at stations
• Opening and closing doors
• Starting a journey without operator

Although there is no driver in the train, the process is supervised nonstop by the central control room.

Ensuring Safety for Passengers

Although the metro does not have drivers, it still has many safety technologies.

Key features include,

• Platform screen doors that open only when a train reaches the platform correctly.
• Communication-based train control technology that allows trains to communicate with each other.
• Automatic systems that detect obstacles on the tracks.
• Braking systems that can accommodate emergencies.
• Systems that are continuously monitored by the operation control center.
• Smart signaling systems that ensure safe train operations.

The above systems minimize human error as well as ensuring reliability in operations.

Inspection and Safety Clearance From the CRS

The inspection of the Green Line corridor was performed by the Commissioner of Railway Safety prior to the granting of clearance.

Inspection detail includes,

• The whole 16.6-km corridor was checked.
• The train stopped on each of the 12 stations.
• There were a number of emergency braking tests conducted.
• The tunnel was stopped mid-way to see how the emergency systems work.
• The signaling and automatic functioning were checked.

After the inspection was successful, the Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation is now waiting for the last clearance to start the passenger trains.

Is Kolkata First Indian City to Have an Driverless Metro Operation?

No, as there are a number of metros in India that already operate automatically.

Delhi Metro

The first metro in India to have automated operation was the Delhi Metro, which has already operated with no drivers in the following lines,

• Pink Line
• Magenta Line

Bengaluru Metro

• Bengaluru Metro also has automated operation in Yellow Line.

Thus, with the launch of Kolkata Metro, another metro city with systematic automatic operation in the train will be launched.