INDIA: The first trainset for the metro under construction in Kanpur was handed over to state project promoter Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corp in a virtual ceremony on September 18.
In July 2020 UPMRC awarded Bombardier Transportation — since acquired by Alstom — a €245m contract to supply 67 three-car Movia trainsets as well as Cityflo 650 communications-based train control for the Kanpur and Agra metro projects, combing the orders with the aim of replicating the rapid timescale achieved on the Lucknow metro Phase 1A project. Delivery of the first set for Kanpur was scheduled within 65 weeks of the order. There is an option for a further 51 cars.
Alstom said the trains are ‘100% indigenously manufactured’ at the factory at Savli in Gujarat, and they have stainless steel bodies, Flexx bogies and Mitrac propulsion systems. Each three-car set has a capacity of 960 passengers, with ‘comfortable’ seating, standing spaces, dedicated areas for wheelchair users, air-conditioning and modern passenger information systems.
Two metro lines are being developed in Kanpur, one running 23·8 km from the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur to Naubasta with 14 elevated and eight underground stations, and the other 8·6 km from Agriculture University to Barra-8 with four elevated and four underground stations. The stations will be closely-spaced at about 1 km apart, with the trains having a design speed of 90 km/h and operating speed of 80 km/h.
‘We are proud to deliver the first metro trains for Kanpur Metro in record time’, said Alain Spohr, Managing Director of Alstom India. ‘After successfully delivering rolling stock and signalling for the state’s capital Lucknow, we are happy to strengthen this partnership with UPMRC and redefine the mobility needs of Kanpur and Agra. Our Movia metro trains are world renowned for their operational reliability, appealing design and enhanced safety features — everything that makes metro an attractive mode of transport.’
