Kolkata Metro conducts trial run on Phoolbagan-Sealdah stretch of East-West Corridor

Kolkata, India (Urban Transport News): Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation (KMRC) on July 31, 2021 has conducted the first trial run of a metro train on a 2.33 km stretch of East-Metro Corridor (Line 2) from Phoolbagan to Sealdah station and back to Phoolbagan.

"The First Trial Run from Phoolbagan to Sealdah of East-West Metro in Kolkata was done today. Once completed, regular services on this section will benefit daily commuters & shall provide the hasslefree, time-saving mode of transportation in Kolkata," said Manoj Joshi, General Manager, Metro Railway Kolkata adding that This is just the start of the trial runs and it takes about three months to do the certified trials.

"We are continuing the trail run. It will continue for now. Once the trials are concluded and certification from ISA is received, Kolkata Metro Railway will take further action for the commencement of services up to Sealdah. If everything goes well then it will be thrown open to the public in another four months," said an official of KMRC.

The Kolkata Metro Rail Corporation has decided to extend metro services up to Sealdah by partially operating Sealdah station (East-Bound line only).

The Phoolbagan - Sealdah section will add another 2.33 kilometers and one station at Sealdah in 6.97 km already operational section from Salt Lake Sector-V to Phoolbagan of East-West Metro corridor. Once the trial is concluded and certification from the Independent Safety Assessor (ISA) is received, Kolkata Metro Railway will take further action for the commencement of metro services for the public up to Sealdah. Sealdah station is likely to open to the public by December this year.

It is noted that the Sealdah metro station, once thrown open to the public, will cater to over 45,000 passengers (for every one hour). The 16.6 km long East-West Metro corridor will connect Salt Lake Sector V with Howrah Maidan through 17 stations. This line will be a mix of 11 elevated and 6 underground stations.