Alstom of France's signaling system enters operation with the 7.5 km section of Bengaluru Metro's Pink Line

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 14, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited of India opened commercial passenger services on the elevated priority section of Reach 6 of the Pink Line in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The section is 7.5 km long, connecting Kalena Agrahara in the south with Tavarekere, and has 6 stations, with a project investment of approximately INR 34.7 billion. The communication-based train control (CBTC) system supplied by Alstom of France also entered operation simultaneously, adopting GoA2 level automated operation mode.

This section is the first part of the Pink Line of Bengaluru Metro to open, running along Bannerghatta Road, with the 6 stations in order being Kalena Agrahara, Hulimavu, IIM Bangalore, JP Nagar 4th Phase, Jayadeva Hospital and Tavarekere. Among them, Jayadeva Hospital station provides an interchange connection with the Yellow Line, linking to the rail transit network toward southern Bengaluru and Electronics City. The complete Pink Line is planned to be approximately 21.25 km long with 18 stations in total; the 7.5 km elevated section opened this time is complemented by the remaining approximately 13.76 km underground section with 12 stations, which is still under construction.

The signaling system adopts CBTC technology, which monitors train positions in real time and implements operational control through continuous communication between trains and trackside equipment. The section entering operation this time adopts GoA2 level automation mode, in which train acceleration and braking are controlled by the automatic train operation (ATO) system, while the driver remains responsible for key operational tasks, so it is not unattended operation. Alstom stated that this is the first time an Indian metro project has adopted GoA2 level automatic train operation mode on the first day of commercial operation.

Supporting facilities include the already commissioned Kothanur depot, the automatic train protection (ATP) system and an integrated test line with automatic train operation functions. Line operations are centrally monitored by the operations control center located at Baiyappanahalli in eastern Bengaluru, where staff manage train operations through Alstom's Urbalis Vision platform. The system entering operation this time supports the operation of 6 trains equipped with the relevant equipment configurations.

Alstom has deployed the HealthHub predictive maintenance system to carry out real-time condition monitoring of signaling equipment assets, collect equipment operating data and identify potential failure risks, providing a basis for signaling system maintenance and equipment lifecycle management.

Alstom's cooperation with Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited began with Phase I. From 2009 to 2017, the company provided signaling and communication systems for the Purple Line and Green Line of Bengaluru Metro. In June 2024, Alstom was awarded the signaling system contract for Reach 6, Lines 2A and 2B of Bengaluru Metro Phase II, with a contract value of EUR 96.2 million, covering system design, manufacturing, supply, installation, testing and commissioning, as well as personnel training and 5 years of annual maintenance services.