The last trial run was on December 27, 2010, when the metro train ran for a short stretch, much to the delight of commuters on the roads below the elevated tracks. That trial run was also an attempt of the BMRCL to keep its date with the city—the corporation had earlier promised that Reach 1 of the metro would be commissioned by December 2010.
The Commission for Railways Safety of Bangalore railways will monitor the entire trail run this month. Panel members of the commission will ride the train along with engineers from the consortium that is supplying the coaches and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.
Trial runs are crucial and mandatory, under the rules of the Railways Safety Commission. The train will have to run on the tracks from Byappanahalli to MG Road, and the commission should be convinced that the trains are indeed safe for passengers before a certificate is issued.
“We are ready for the trail run. These should start by the second week of January 2011. Engineers and the commission from railways safety will closely watch every move. There will be oscillation tests, distance break tests, brakes working during emergency and all sorts of tests to ensure that the trains are fit for public use,” said BMRCL spokesperson BLY Chavan.
The train will cover at least 4,000km of travel on this track and the safety commissionwill only issue a certificate if members are convinced of the safety of the trains. If all goes as planned, Reach 1 of Namma Metro could be inaugurated by the end of February 2011.
