Driverless Trains Begin Operations on Chennai Metro Phase II
Alstom has completed manufacturing 36 Metropolis trainsets, comprising 108 cars, for the corridor.
Chennai: Alstom’s driverless Metropolis Metro trains have commenced passenger services on corridor 4 of Chennai Metro phase II, marking a milestone in the city’s urban transport network.
The 26-km corridor connects Poonamallee Bypass with Light House through 28 stations, including 18 elevated and 10 underground stations. The service is expected to improve connectivity between residential, commercial and cultural centres, while offering commuters a faster and more sustainable alternative to road transport.
Alstom has completed manufacturing 36 Metropolis trainsets, comprising 108 cars, for the corridor. Designed at the company’s engineering centre in Bengaluru and manufactured at its Sri City facility in Andhra Pradesh, the trains are configured for fully driverless operations at speeds of up to 80 kmph. The final trainset is scheduled for delivery by the end of October 2026.
Each three-car trainset can accommodate up to 1,000 passengers and features air-conditioning, regenerative braking, CCTV cameras, real-time passenger information displays and dedicated spaces for women and persons with disabilities. One entire car has two-thirds of its space reserved for women.
The trains’ exterior design draws inspiration from Bharatanatyam mudras, while the interior platform-screen patterns incorporate Tamil Nadu’s traditional kolam art.
Olivier Loison, managing director of Alstom India, said the commencement of passenger services reflected the company’s long-standing partnership with Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) and demonstrated India’s engineering and manufacturing capabilities.
Awarded in 2023 and valued at €124 million, the contract covered the design, manufacture, supply, testing and commissioning of the trainsets, along with driver training for CMRL personnel.
Alstom has supported Chennai Metro since 2010, supplying 208 Metro cars, signalling and power systems for phase I, which spans 54 km across two corridors.
The company is also preparing to manufacture 32 additional driverless trainsets, comprising 96 cars, ordered in 2025 for Chennai Metro. Production is scheduled to begin at its Sri City facility.