RRTS: Transforming regional mobility at higher speeds in India

Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Transforming regional mobility at higher speeds in India

To provide a new, dedicated, semi high speed, high capacity, comfortable and state -of-theart passenger services to the people by connecting regional nodes with India’s National Capital Region (NCR), the NITI Aayog (formerly known as Planning Commission) had set up a Task Force under the chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in 2005. The Task Force identified 8 RRTS corridors and prioritised three corridors namely DelhiMeerut, Delhi-Panipat and Delhi- Alwar for implementation.

In Mar 2010, National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) appointed M/s. Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMMTS) for DelhiMeerut and Delhi-Panipat and M/s. Urban Mass Transit Company Limited (UMTC) for Delhi-Alwar to carry out feasibility study and prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed RRTS corridors.

To implement the proposed RRTS projects, the Government of India under Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) has formed the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) - a special purpose vehicle in collaboration with participating state governments viz. Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Rajasthan.

In its first phase, it will build a 383-km long network of high-frequency commuter rail lines to connect Delhi with cities and urban centres in adjoining states to support balanced and sustainable urban development through better connectivity and access.

On 8th March 2019, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi laid the Foundation Stone of India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) between Delhi and Meerut via Ghaziabad. The construction work on this corridor is in full swing. The 17-km priority section of the corridor is targeted to be commissioned by 2023 and the entire 82-km corridor will be opened for public by 2025.

In addition to Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut, under RRTS Phase-1, NCRTC would also provide world class regional commuter transit services on the DelhiGurugram-SNB-Alwar (198 km) and Delhi-Panipat (103 km) corridors in future.

All the three prioritized corridors of RRTS, converging at Sarai Kale Khan RRTS station, will be interoperable,

helping commuters travel from one corridor to another without changing the train. RRTS stations will be seamlessly integrated with metro stations, railway stations, bus terminals, and airports. RRTS network will be integrated with all lines of the Delhi Metro Rail Network.

RRTS Smart Lines (Phase I)

• Delhi-Meerut RRTS

Corridor-I (Delhi – Meerut RRTS) will connect Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Meerut in Uttar Pradesh through 16 stations and cover a total distance of 82.15 km in 55 minutes. The name of proposed stations are Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar, Anand Vihar, Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, Muradnagar, Modinagar South, Modinagar North, Meerut South, Partapur, Rithani, Shatabdi Nagar, Brahmpuri and Meerut Central. This line will also share its tracks for the proposed metro rail project in Meerut. The total estimated cost of this project is Rs 30,274 crore (US$ 3947.7 million).

NCRTC has recently awarded the contract to Bombardier Transportation to design, build and deliver 210 regional commuter and intercity transit trains with comprehensive maintenance services for 15 years for the Delhi - Ghaziabad Meerut RRTS. Bombardier will deliver 30 trainsets of six-cars each for RRTS and 10 train sets of three-cars each for Meerut Metro. NCRTC has a provision to exercise an option to procure an additional 90 cars and a further two years of maintenance.

• Delhi-SNB-Alwar RRST

Corridor-II (Delhi – Alwar RRTS) will connect Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Alwar in Rajasthan through 22 stations in three phases and cover a total distance of 164 km in 117 minutes.

In first phase, a total of 106 km corridor shall be built which will connect Sarai Kale Khan to SNB (ShahjahanpurNeemrana-Behror) through 16 stations. The names of proposed stations are Sarai Kale Khan, Jor Bagh, Munirka, Aerocity, Udyog Nagar, Sector 17, Rajiv Chowk, Kherki Daula, Manesar, Panchgaon, Bilaspur Chowk, Dharuhera, MBIR, Rewari, Bawal, and SNB. The total estimated cost of this stretch is Rs 37,000 crores with completion target 2024.

• Delhi-Panipat RRTS

Corridor-III (Delhi-Panipat RRTS) will connect Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Panipat in Haryana through 16 stations and cover a total distance of 103 km in 60 minutes. The names of proposed stations are Sarai Kale Khan, Indraprashtha, Kashmere Gate, Burari Crossing, Mukarba Chowk, Alipur, Kundli, KMP Interchange, RGEU, Murthal, Barhi, Gannaur, Samalkha, Panipat South, Panipat North, Panipat Depot Station. The total estimated cost of this stretch is Rs 37,500 crores with completion target 2024.

FEATURES OF RRTS TRAIN

Keeping the passengers informed about punctuality and connections is a key success factor for operators. The train is designed for modern visual and audio announcements which orients passenger with information including next stop, final destination, estimated time of arrival as well as delays and emergencies if needed. The system can be adapted to meet specific individual route requirements through numerous pre-defined variants.

Salient features

• Universally accessibile: wheelchair dedicated space with safety restraints, ramp • Safety: CCTV, fire & smoke detector, intercom, fire extinguisher, exterior camera, door status indicator Passenger information: digital route map, infotainment display, speakers • Comfort: air-conditioning system, cantilever cushioned seat, adequate leg room, draught screen, lighting with dimming control • Access: mix seating arrangement, wide door and gangway, optimized aisle width with grab handles and rails for standee, overhead luggage rack • Exterior: streamlined aerodynamic cab profile with coupler cover Seamless

Connectivity: on-board WiFi, USB charging for mobile / laptop

Exclusive for business class

• Reclining cushioned seat with head rest, foot & arm rest • Vending machine provision • Sun visor for passenger window • USB charging for mobile / laptop for each seat row • Passageway sliding door

Vehicle data

• Type of vehicle: Electric Multiple Unit • RRTS Trains 6-car train set (extendable up to 9-car) • Meerut Metro: 3-car train set • Maximum design speed 180 km/h • Seats in RRTS: 400 each coach • Seats in MRTS: 190 each coach • Capacity 6 car set (RRTS): 1,750-1,790 (seating + standing) • Capacity 3 car set (MRTS): 900-925 (seating + standing) • Signalling System: ETCS Level-2 • Power Supply: 25kV OHE