Chennai's metro to get 168 cars for 243 million

Chennais metro project has been
initiated in 2007. The phase 1 consists of two interconnected
lines, linking North Chennai to the Airport in the South and
Chennai Central to St.Thomas Mount. It will include 32 stations
-19 equipped with full size platform screen doors- over 45 km (24
km underground and 21 km elevated). These lines have been planned
with a capacity to carry more than 500,000 people daily and a
frequency between two trains as short as 3 minutes. The entire
project is scheduled to be completed by 2014-2015. Chennai,
formerly known as Madras, is the capital city of the state of
Tamil Nadu, located on the southeastern coast of India. It is the
fifth most inhabited conurbation in India, with a population of
more than 8 million people.

Alstom will supply Chennai metros public operator with 42
train-sets composed of four cars each. The stainless steel trains
will feature air-conditioned interiors and electrically operated
automatic sliding doors, offering comfort and easy access to
passengers. They will be equipped with a regenerative braking
system ensuring significant energy savings. The cars will operate
on 25 KV AC through an overhead catenary system at speeds of up
to 80 km/h.

As a multi-specialist rail transport solutions supplier, Alstom
has previously provided train control and signaling systems for
the metro of Delhi and is installing them in the metro of
Bangalore.

This new contract confirms that Alstom is well positioned to
respond to all opportunities arising from one of the largest
railway markets in the world. By the end of 2012, train passenger
numbers in India are expected to increase to 8.4 billion
annually. Indian Railways current five-year plan foresees
investments of approximately 39 billion until 2012. Today,
forty-five Indian cities are above 1 million inhabitants and more
than 10 urban projects are in progress or planned in Bangalore,
Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi and Kolkata.

Alstom will now roll out its expertise in urban rail
transport by providing modern trains for metro services in
Chennai. This new order underlines the confidence shown in Alstom
and the quality of its rail transportation solutions, and
reinforces Alstoms long term commitment to the Indian
market, stated Philippe Mellier, President of Alstom
Transport. We are now aiming to deliver world class
solutions to India as the country embarks on modernizing and
expanding the railway and metro infrastructure.