Metro starts shift to six-coach trains to boost capacity

As a first step towards increasing the capacity of its trains,the Delhi Metro has started converting the existing four-coach trains into six-coach ones. Two prototype trains are already being tested at the DMRC depots.

With the ridership growing with every passing day,the Metro also plans to add more trains to its fleet from next year,DMRC officials said. “At present,there are 129 train sets. By the end of 2011 the fleet will have 201 trains— 112 trains with four coaches and 89 trains with six,” said Anuj Dayal,DMRC spokesperson.

The extra coaches will start arriving from the end of this year and will be coupled with the existing train sets for conversion. A four-coach train has a capacity ranging from 1,200 to 1,500 commuters,while a six-coach one can carry about 1,800 to 2,100 per trip,Metro officials said.