Kochi: Alstom will deliver the first set of coaches for the Kochi Metro mid-December, but the trial run is expected only by February first week.
Sources said coaches were getting ready for despatch at its Sri City plant in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. KMRL managing director Elias George will be visiting there next week to finalise the delivery schedule.
Each coach with a passenger capacity of 250 will have a 22-metre length, 2.5-metre width and two-metre height. A train will have three disabled-friendly and soundproof coaches.
The Kochi Metro has given an order for 25 sets of trains. The trial run would be held in the 10-km Muttom-Palarivattom section in the first week of February.
Officials said the track-laying works were progressing, and the contractor was told to speed up civil works. They agreed to mobilise more workers to carry out multiple construction activities simultaneously.
The first trial run will be without signals, followed by different stages like integrated, auxillation and speed tests.
Meanwhile, the KMRL is yet to take a decision on Alstom’s proposal for value additions such as regeneration of braking energy and unmanned operation.
Sources said the issue would not come for discussions during the MD’s visit. The features could be added later if they want.
The first phase is expected to be commissioned in June, and the project will be completed in July 2017.
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