Alstom delivers its first two metro train sets to Chennai metro in India

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Alstom has successfully delivered to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) the first two metro sets of Chennais future metro system in India. The train sets are the first ever to be manufactured in India1, in Alstoms new rolling stock facility of Sricity, Andhra Pradesh. They are part of a 243 million order representing 42 Metropolis train sets to be delivered by 2015.

The metro cars were rolled out from the facility in presence of Henri Poupart-Lafarge, President of Alstom Transport, Sudhir Krishna, Chairman of CMRL and François Richier, Frances Ambassador to India.

The stainless steel trains - composed of four cars each - will feature air-conditioned interiors and electrically operated automatic sliding doors, offering comfort and easy access to passengers. They will be equipped with a regenerative braking system ensuring significant energy savings. The cars will operate through an overhead catenary system at speeds of up to 80 km/h.

The new 280,000 ft2 Sricity facility is a modern unit incorporating best practices from other Alstom factories across the world. Today, the site employs over 150 highly skilled people and the plan is to increase this number to 200 soon.

The factory has an energy-efficient design including double insulation, heat recovery systems, a geothermal heating and cooling system which consumes less energy and is equipped to recycle  rainwater. The facilitys location in the Sricity Special Economic Zone provides a lot of space for potential further expansion.

The metro cars benefit from the highest quality standards and technological expertise. Alstom India received the Award for the best Rolling Stock Manufacturer /Supplier of the Year, which demonstrates the satisfaction of Alstoms customers with its products. The new world class Sricity plant plays a vital role in Alstoms strategy to set up a local industrial footprint in India, enhance proximity to its local customers and serve the expanding Indian infrastructure market, said Henri Poupart-Lafarge, President of Alstom Transport.

Metro projects are currently being implemented in seven Indian cities, representing a network of over 450 km. By 2030, 40% of people will live in towns and cities (vs 30% today). This new facility places Alstom in an excellent position to seize the opportunities offered by the countrys rapid urbanisation

1 - The first nine train sets were produced and tested at the Alstom Lapa factory in Brazil. They will all be delivered by May 2014 

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