Bombardier's driverless CITYFLO 650 rail control solution starts operation

New Delhi (Urban Transport News): After the opening of the 4.29 km long Delhi Metro's Line-9 (Dwarka-Najafgarh section), Bombardier’s CITYFLO 650 communications-based train control (CBTC) solution started operation with the train. Bombardier Transportation, along with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRC), celebrated the opening of the first section of Line 9 (Grey Line) on September 4. The trains being run in Grey Line are equipped with Bombardier’s CITYFLO 650 communications-based train control (CBTC) solution. Grey Line of Delhi Metro is the latest addition to the city’s metro rail network, connecting Dwarka to Najafgarh with the aims to ease congestion and improve travel times in the western part of the National capital. After the opening of the section, SS Joshi, Director, Rolling Stock, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, said:

The opening of Dwarka-Najafgarh stretch (Line 9) is another major milestone in the expansion of Delhi’s metro system which is significantly improving travel for commuters. I would like to thank the Bombardier Transportation team for their hard work and dedication in enabling us to successfully commission this latest line on the network.

KD Sharma, Chief Signal and Telecom Engineer of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, also thanked and appreciated to Bombardier Transportation for successfully completing signalling works in Line-9 under very tight time constraints. Rasmi Ranjan Ray, Head of Rail Control Solutions India for Bombardier Transportation said:

Bombardier Transportation and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation have been working together since 2007 to provide signalling and control systems on the Delhi Metro rail network. It is a proud moment to see the second fully automated line equipped with Bombardier's CITYFLO 650 rail control improving passenger experience in Delhi. We look forward to continuing to equip more upcoming lines with our advanced signalling to ensure safe and reliable travel for all.

Earlier in 2018 Bombardier’s proven CITYFLO 650 CBTC solution has been started operating on 58.5-km long Delhi Metro's Shiv Vihar-Majlis Park corridor (Line 7), also called Pink Line, which now handles an average ridership of over 200,000 passengers per day. According to the information shared by Bombardier Transportation, the opening of Delhi Metro's Line 9 brings the total of CITYFLO 650-equipped track in India to more than 60 km with a further 1.2 km stretch planned to open in 2020 which will also be equipped with the technology. Bombardier is actively collaborating in the 'Make in India' initiative of Government by delivering rail vehicles, products, and solutions that are developed locally, for both Indian and foreign markets. Bombardier Transportation has also been delivering rail control solutions in India for over 30 years and is the largest signalling solution supplier for the Delhi Metro rail network. In addition to the CITYFLO 650 operating on Line 7 and Line 9, Line 5 and Line 6 of Delhi Metro rail network are equipped with Bombardier’s CITYFLO 350 signalling solution. Earlier this year, Bombardier Transportation signed a contract with Delhi Metro to supply another 40 BOMBARDIER MOVIA metro cars, bringing the number of cars on Delhi’s metro lines to 816 – one of the world’s largest Bombardier Transportation-built metro fleets.