ALSTOM has handed over the first train to Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC) for the Kanpur metro, which is under construction in the northern Indian city.

The train was unveiled by the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mr Yogi Adityanath, at Alstom’s rolling stock manufacturing facility in Savli, Gujarat, in the presence of UPMRC managing director, Mr Kumar Keshav, and Alstom India managing director, Mr Alain Spohr. The trains are built entirely at the facility in Savli.

Bombardier Transportation was awarded a Rs 20.5bn ($US 274.8m) contract to supply 67 three-car Movia metro trains, plus Cityflo 650 CBTC signalling and control systems, for metro projects in Kanpur and Agra in July 2020. Alstom inherited the contracts following its acquisition of Bombardier in January. The contract includes an option for another 51 metro cars.

Two lines are being built in Kanpur, running between Naubasta, Phool Bagh and IIT Kanpur, and Jaurali – Chandrashekhar Azad University, for a total distance of 32km. The lines will interchange at Rawatpur station. The new metro will benefit around 5 million citizens. Both the Kanpur and Agra metros will include both underground and at-grade sections and incorporate 57 stations and four depots.

The trains have stainless-steel car bodies, air-conditioning, automated sliding doors, comfortable seating and standing spaces, dedicated doors for passengers with reduced mobility including wheelchair users, and modern passenger information systems. The fleet design takes inspiration from Uttar Pradesh’s cultural heritage, and Alstom says the aerodynamic modular design of the new Movia metro train will offer a host of safety, security and environmental benefits.

The trains will be equipped with Flexx metro bogies and the Mitrac propulsion system to increase energy efficiency, reduce operating costs, and meet the highest environmental standards. Each three-car train will accommodate approximately 960 passengers.

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