Know standard specifications of proposed MetroNeo Light Rail System in India

The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Govt of India on 5th November 2020 has issued Standard Specifications for MetroNeo suited for Tier-2 cities or outer areas of Tier-1/ megacities with projected Per Hour Per Direction Traffic (PHPDT) for next two decades up to 10,000 today.

Salient features

• Elevated or At-grade shared Right of Way (RoW)
• Rubber-tyred bi-articulated electric coaches – quality at par with Metro
• Overhead traction of 750VDC
• Coaches are capable of running on battery in Non-OHE zones.
• Guided coaches for passenger safety and also upgradable to LRT
• Small stations – Entry from footpath to platform through lift/link bridge
• Higher acceleration and deceleration
• Coaches can run very close to each other thus attaining lesser headway
• Telecom network to connect coaches, provide ticketing and smart passenger information system. 
• Superior in terms of vibration, noise, acceleration and cost

Civil Parametres for Elevated MetroNeo

• Width of viaduct = 8m
• Shared right of way can be planned for 8m of the viaduct
• Road space occupied for piers is max 2.2m
• No Concourse level in elevated stations, All technical rooms and TOM planned on Platform level only.
• Platform width for the elevated station is 2.25m on either side, length of the platform is minimum 30m
• Foot over bridges and elevators are planned for entry/exits.
• Turnarounds are provided at terminals of the corridor.
• Vertical gradient for viaduct = 5%
• Desirable horizontal turning radius = 90m

Civil Parametres for At Grade MetroNeo

• Shared RoW for Metro Neo. If dedicated RoW is to be provided then continuous fencing/plinth is provided
• Width occupied 8m (RoW) on the roads (for UP+DN line) and 12m at the stations.
• If road width is not available, a Single line (4m) shall run on one road and the other line is planned on the parallel road.
• Width of each platform = 2.25m, length of the platform is min 30m
• Station roof shall be optimized up to the platform area, not the entire road width
• Ring network to be planned to reduce the headway.
• Crash barriers are provided for collision prevention

System Parameters

Rolling Stock

• Rubber-tyred electric coaches with Axle load 10-12Ton
• Coach width = 2.55m
• 2 types of coaches single articulated with 18m length and double articulated with 25m length
• 18m coaches have passenger capacity = 140 and 25m coaches have 250
• Car structure shall be stainless steel or Aluminum
• Sufficient Battery capacity up to 20-25KM at non-OHE zones
• Max operating speed = 65kmph
• Average speed = 30kmph
• Front or Back or Side evacuation can be possible as per Metro authority
• Anti-collision devices in coaches to prevent forward collision and Overspeed warnings ROLLING STOCK
• Operate on 750 VDC Overhead traction (parallel overhead wires)
• Dedicated HT supply (22/33 kV) will be availed from Grid substation thereby avoiding the requirement of Receiving Substation (RSS).
• Ring Main Network - The power supply at 22/33 kV voltage level will be distributed along the alignment through 33kV Ring main cable network for feeding Traction Substations (TSS).
• These cables will be laid in dedicated ducts along/below the viaduct.
• A Traction substation (TSS) for every 2-3 km will be envisaged
• The contact wire shall be hard-drawn copper or copper alloy wire, usually with a cross-section ranges from 80/100/107/120/150 mm2
• Height used for standard contact lines - 5.5m and for lines under bridges or for depots - 4,5m up to 5,5m.
• Catenary switches are provided on OHE wires for route diversions

Traction & Power Supply

• Operate on 750 VDC Overhead traction (parallel overhead wires)
• Dedicated HT supply (22/33 kV) will be availed from Grid substation thereby avoiding the requirement of Receiving Substation (RSS).
• Ring Main Network - The power supply at 22/33 kV voltage level will be distributed along the alignment through 33kV Ring main cable network for feeding Traction Substations (TSS).
• These cables will be laid in dedicated ducts along/below the viaduct.
• A Traction substation (TSS) for every 2-3 km will be envisaged
• The contact wire shall be hard-drawn copper or copper alloy wire, usually with a cross-section ranges from 80/100/107/120/150 mm2
• Height used for standard contact lines - 5.5m and for lines under bridges or for depots - 4,5m up to 5,5m.
• Catenary switches are provided on OHE wires for route diversions

Signal, Telecom and AFC

• Line of sight Signalling dependent on the driver with anti-collision devices and speed limits
• The central monitoring system of coaches in the control centre with GPS based system
• Fiber optic cables, minimum CCV surveillance in stations, an intelligent display system for coach arrival departure.
• Centralized storage is given and telecom racks can be placed below platforms avoiding separate telecom rooms.
• Ticket validators are installed inside coaches with NCMC ticketing systems
• Tickets are available at stations, TVM’s in local shops and other landmark areas in the city
• No AFC gates in stations

Guidance System

• Kerb guidance system can be used in Metro Neo
• Small guide wheels are attached to the bus axle and are guided by vertical curves on either side of the lane.
• These guide wheels push the steering mechanism of the bus to keep it on centralized path. The bus can be steered in a normal way if it is away from the guideway.
• This system permits high-speed operation and precise positioning.
• This type of guidance system is relatively inexpensive as compared to other systems.

Maintenance Depots

• Entry/Exit shall be toll plaza type with inlet points
• The maintenance and stabling or more facilities for coaches can be done in one depot
• Depot to be planned without OHE except for OHE maintenance shed
• Coaches are to be operated on battery at depots