Kochi: The Kochi Metro train on Saturday achieved a maximum operational speed of 80 kmph during a key test trial held in the six-km stretch from Muttom yard to Edapally Toll Junction. “The critical factors targeted were enhanced speed, traction continuity, track steadiness and communication. All these were found to be satisfactory. Now the test trial runs will be done on a daily basis for the next 25 days,” said a senior DMRC official.
The metro train with three coaches left the Muttom depot at 11 am and then continued till 10 pm. The speed was gradually increased during successive trips and touched 80 kmph in between. The test trials will continue till August 12 and will be held daily from 10 pm to 2 pm the next day.
“The track to and fro in the Muttom-Edapally section is now fit for train operation. The track laying works till Palarivattom will be completed in a month’s time. Then it will be further extended upto Maharajas College in a phased manner,” the official said. The coaches are designed to run at a speed of 90 kmph. Two rakes have already been delivered by coach manufacturer Alstom and now a rake each is scheduled to be delivered every month.
The Kochi Metro has given an order for 25 sets of trains. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) carried out maiden trial run on tracks on February 27 in the 3.5-km long Muttom-Kalamassery section, touching a speed of upto 10 km per hour.
