A Momentous Feat for Agra: Taj City Witnesses Its First Metro Train Trial Run on a Ballastless Track in 2023
A Momentous Feat for Agra: Taj City Witnesses Its First Metro Train Trial Run on a Ballastless Track in 2023
The Agra Metro project’s first trial run was seen by the locals, who were pleasantly taken aback.
A brand-new landmark has emerged on the bustling streets of Agra, a city famous for its historic Mughal-era architecture. The sound of steel wheels on a track, the sight of shiny metro cars, and the smell of a new beginning filled the air.
In an extraordinary feat, Agra, also known as Taj City, has marked an epochal milestone in its transportation history by witnessing the first metro train trial run on a ballastless track conducted in the first week of July 2023.
Agra achieved a historic first when a metro train was successfully moved over a 3 km ballastless track from the Ramp Area of the Agra Metro Depot to Taj East Gate Station. When they saw the first test run of the Agra Metro project, the locals were delightfully taken aback.
The ballasted track in the Agra Metro Depot served as the site of the experiments up until this point. Notably, the Agra Metro trains will have a distinctive design since there will be no overhead machinery to facilitate metro operations. Charged third rail that runs parallel to the railway will supply electricity to the trains.
Sushil Kumar, the managing director of the Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRC), hailed this operation as a victory for the Agra Metro officials and declared that “it is a historic day for the people of Agra as today for the first time train movement was successfully carried out on the 3 km long viaduct and all train systems and equipments were tested successfully.”
Kumar further stated that the officials are determined to start the city’s metro operations as soon as possible. “We hope to put sustained efforts in achieving timely commissioning of the Agra Metro Project,” Kumar continued.
The city of Agra, which houses the grandeur of the Taj Mahal, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, welcomes a new era of modern transit. The first metro train trial run is a transformative event that propels Agra into a novel chapter of urban mobility. The trailblazing event has witnessed the metro train seamlessly manoeuvre the 14 km stretch between Taj East Gate and Fatehabad Road.
This landmark project uses state-of-the-art ballastless tracks. Traditional railway tracks, known as ballasted tracks, require a bed of crushed stones or ‘ballast’ to distribute the weight of the trains and provide a firm, steady base. On the contrary, ballastless tracks offer a direct and fixed track installation, with the way connected directly to the tunnel or viaduct.
Opting for a ballastless track system offers several advantages. It requires less maintenance and reduces the cost of periodic overhauls, providing an economic edge. Also, it allows for a smoother, quieter ride, thus significantly enhancing the travel experience. Furthermore, the ballastless track design is ideal for high-speed operations and urban environments where durability and performance are paramount.
The Agra Metro has been specifically engineered to function at a top speed of 80 km/h. Its ballastless system is more effective and eco-friendly for managing high-speed metro operations.
The successful trial run on the ballastless track opens up various opportunities for Agra. With a population of over 1.5 million and an influx of tourists attracted by its historic landmarks, an efficient metro system will significantly ease the city’s traffic congestion and improve the quality of life.
The metro system offers a fast and eco-friendly option for transportation, which can reduce travel time for people and help minimise future carbon emissions.
In addition, this progress will significantly benefit the tourism sector. The initial phase of the metro line links critical tourist spots like the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Sikandra with the railway stations, offering tourists a convenient, speedy, and effective means of transportation.
In essence, the first metro train trial run on a ballastless track in Agra is a marvel of modern engineering and a symbol of progress and urban development. The seamless integration of such advanced transit systems with the historic city’s existing architecture creates a harmonious blend of the past and the future, mirroring the vision of a new India. As the people of Agra and the whole of India celebrate this achievement, the sight of the metro gliding along its ballastless track offers a glimpse of a sustainable, interconnected, and dynamic future for urban mobility in the country.
