The Kochi Metro test run with activation of the Automatic Train Operation (ATO) components will be help from Muttom depot to Edapally on March 21. A software expert Alessio Pennatini from French company SESTO (coach manufacturer Alstom’s rolling stock traction expert)-has overseen the work at the Muttom yard for over a week and successfully completed the software installation in the metro coach after a few initial glitches. “The software will determine the speed-gradient brake combo in metro trains. For instance, the brake initiation for reduced target speed can be done by the change circuit as the train passes through a series of ‘speed steps’ to the signalled stop,” sources said. The train will now be operated at increased speed, up to 60 km/ hour with the installation of the software . The maximum speed of the metro train will be 80 k m per hour though the average commuting speed during commercial operation will be only 35 k m per hour.
The Delhi Metro Corporation carried out maiden trial run on tracks on February 27 in the 3.5 k m Muttom-Kalamassery section successfully, touching a speed of up to 10 k m per hour. “Since this is the first time Alstom-built metro train is being operated small difficulty in the software installation which Edapally by a few days,” they said. The DMRC targets to keep the trial runs to the minimum and conduct them at the earliest. “This is to avoid delay in installation of signalling and telecommunication system as the work will suffer for a day or two whenever trial run is conducted over viaduct ,” an official said.
