Kochi: The all important integrated trials of Kochi Metro Rail under the supervision of the officials of the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) will begin on January 9.
The Commissioner for Railway Safety will inspect the rolling stock, Operation Control Centre at Muttom and other infrastructure facilities on January 9, 10 and 11.
This will be followed by extensive integrated trial runs from mid-January. The synergised operation of trains in sync with signals, telecommunication and power will be tested and fine-tuned, if found necessary. The trial will be held along the Aluva-Palarivattom stretch.
Alstom has handed over three set of rakes while another is expected at the Muttom yard next week. All four sets of trains will be deployed for the integrated trials.
The trial run is considered critical, considering that Kochi Metro Rail will be the first in the country to conduct commercial train operations using the communications-based train control system (CBTC) for which a special software has been developed.
The trails will be controlled and monitored from the state-of the-art Operation Control Centre at Muttom. The trials will be followed by an inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) for desired safety standards. Only after the CRS issues the safety certificate can Kochi Metro start its operations.
