Agra, the historical city, marked the inauguration of its metro service, featuring world-class trains manufactured by Alstom. These new Movia metros are equipped with the advanced Cityflo 650 signalling solution, ensuring safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation for commuters.
Alstom stands out as the sole multinational provider of sustainable mobility solutions in India, offering a diverse range of products tailored to meet specific customer requirements. From economical mass-market platforms to cutting-edge technological innovations, the company’s portfolio is unmatched. Renowned for its contribution to India’s ‘Rail Revolution,’ Alstom continues to play a crucial role in advancing the country’s freight and passenger transport sectors.
With six manufacturing facilities and four major engineering centers, Alstom not only serves domestic projects but also contributes significantly to international ventures. In line with the government’s modernization drive, Alstom has introduced several groundbreaking technologies in India, covering rolling stock, rail equipment, infrastructure, signalling, and services.
The inaugural run was initiated by the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, through virtual means, and the Honourable Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath, from the Taj Mahal Metro Station. Alstom, a renowned global leader in smart and sustainable mobility, designed these trains at its engineering centre in Hyderabad, with the signalling solution developed in Gurgaon & Bangkok.
Manufactured at Alstom’s cutting-edge facility in Savli, Gujarat, these trains align with the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives. They are equipped with modern energy-efficient propulsion systems and regenerative braking, significantly reducing energy consumption and providing a sustainable and eco-friendly transportation alternative.
Olivier Loison, the Managing Director of Alstom India, expressed excitement about Agra becoming the 6th city in Uttar Pradesh with a functional metro service. He highlighted Alstom’s strong partnership with UPMRC, having contributed to almost all metro projects in the state. Loison emphasized the metro’s potential as a game-changer for Agra, boosting tourism by providing a sustainable mode of transportation to the city’s cultural sites, including the iconic Taj Mahal.
Additionally, the metro is expected to benefit residents by improving connectivity, reducing travel time, and offering modern mobility services. The first trainset was delivered to UPMRC by Alstom in September 2021 in Kanpur, with the Kanpur revenue service inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2021. A total of 26 trainsets have been delivered to Agra (9) and Kanpur (17) by Alstom.
Each trainset can accommodate around 960 passengers in a three-car configuration. The Agra Metro Rail Project is expected to benefit over two million city residents directly and indirectly. Sushil Kumar, the Managing Director of UPMRC, noted that the Uttar Pradesh Metro has set records by starting metro projects at a rapid pace, with Lucknow launched in three years, Kanpur’s priority section in two years and two months, and now the underground section in Agra completed and started in less than two years.
This achievement was made possible by the rapid commissioning of trains, with most of the prototype testing done in Kanpur, allowing for significant time savings in train commissioning and signalling interface, a first in India. Kumar credited Alstom’s team for their crucial support throughout the process. The fusion of Uttar Pradesh’s rich cultural heritage with cutting-edge design has resulted in an appealing aesthetic for the metro fleet.
Featuring stainless-steel car bodies, these air-conditioned cars will boast automated sliding doors, comfortable seating and standing areas, dedicated spaces for wheelchair users, and modern passenger information systems, all aimed at providing an accessible and inviting environment for commuters. The aerodynamic modular design of the new Movia metros will offer numerous safety, security, and environmental advantages, coupled with a superior passenger experience.
These trains will be equipped with Flexx metro bogies and the Mitrac propulsion system, enhancing energy efficiency, reducing operating costs, and ensuring compliance with the highest environmental standards. Agra Metro will be equipped with Alstom’s state-of-the-art moving block CBTC solution Cityflo 650, featuring a modern ATP system with continuous supervision and updates through radio transmissions.
Vehicle and infrastructure supervision will be carried out using a modern computer-based control and supervision system, ensuring maximum availability and safety through redundant interlocking computers. Alstom’s advanced signalling system will provide passengers with a high level of comfort, with smooth braking and acceleration. Alstom’s scope on the Agra-Kanpur metro project includes the design and delivery of 201 metro cars (67 metro trainsets) and the installation of an advanced CBTC signalling solution (Cityflo 650) on Agra’s two corridors (27 stations, 30 km).
The Movia metros for Agra and Kanpur are part of Alstom’s market-leading Metropolis metro solutions, designed to enhance urban mobility for over 60 years. Alstom is an undisputed leader in CBTC technology, boasting over 30 years of expertise in communications-based train control and having equipped more than 190 metro lines in over 32 countries. Alstom’s CBTC technology addresses the global mobility challenges of today, offering seamless, connected mobility to passengers in an era of increasing transportation demands.
