Bengaluru Metro launches first Titagarh-CRRC train on Green Line

The first train, TS16, was put into service on Monday and two more trainsets are expected to be put into service soon. However, their addition will not immediately translate into more services or shorter waiting times for passengers. | Photo credit: File Photo

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) has launched the first six-car train built under the Titagarh-China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) rolling stock contract on the 33-km green line between Madawara and Silk Institute, marking another step to clear the backlog in the maintenance of the existing rolling stock.

The first train, TS16, was put into service on Monday. Two more trains are expected to be launched soon. However, the addition of new train sets will not immediately translate into more services or shorter waiting times for passengers.

Maintenance

According to BMRCL officials, the incoming trains are used to facilitate the withdrawal of older train sets for scheduled maintenance. The company currently prioritizes overhauling trains that have completed the required service period, with each trainset expected to remain under maintenance for about 15 days.

“Maintenance of metro trains is essential to ensure safety, reliability and availability of the fleet. While trains are designed for long life, comprehensive mid-life maintenance is required to inspect, overhaul and replace parts that are subject to wear and tear during years of service,” said a BMRCL official.

Metro rolling stock typically has a lifespan of around 30 years, but major mid-life maintenance is carried out during the operational period to ensure that critical systems continue to operate reliably. The exercise involves taking trains out of regular service for a detailed inspection and planned overhaul, according to officials.

BMRCL planned to use the arrival of new trains to clear the accumulated maintenance backlog. However, officials are reviewing the timing and pace of the program in light of the pressure on train availability across the network.

21 train sets

The Green Line is expected to eventually receive a complete fleet of 21 six-car Titagarh-CRRC trains by the second quarter of 2027. The new trains are likely to be deployed exclusively on the corridor and their maintenance will be handled at the Peenya depot.

Of the 21 trainsets, the first has now been introduced, while the remaining 20 are being manufactured at the Titagarh Rail Systems plant in Uttarpara, West Bengal. The deployment plan is intended to simplify operations and maintenance by focusing the new fleet on a single corridor.

The arrival of the new trains will also lead to reallocation of the Bengaluru Metro’s existing fleet. The 17 BEML trains currently running on the Green Line are expected to be gradually shifted to the Purple Line, which runs between Challaghatta and Whitefield and has the highest passenger demand among the metro corridors.

The relocation is expected to provide additional rolling stock on the Purple Line while allowing BMRCL to maintain the Green Line with a dedicated fleet of newer trains, according to officials. Officials expect the measure to improve fleet availability and support capacity management on both corridors.

The new trains use Distance-To-Go (DTG) technology and have a design substantially similar to the rolling stock deployed on the Yellow Line between RV Road and Electronics City, which is compatible with the signaling requirements of the corridor.

The launch also marks progress on a procurement project that has been plagued by long-term delays. In 2019, BMRCL awarded a ₹1,578 crore contract to CRRC for the supply of 216 metro buses. The project subsequently ran into trouble after CRRC failed to set up a manufacturing plant in India as required by the contract.

The delays led BMRCL to issue several notices to the company and consider invoking a bank guarantee of ₹372 crore. The impasse was eventually resolved after CRRC entered into a partnership with Kolkata-based Titagarh Rail Systems, enabling the remaining buses to be manufactured in India.

Published – 17 Sep 2026 19:19 IST