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Bangalore Metro to Add Three New Trains on Green Line by August 2026
Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) announced that three new six‑coach trainsets will join the Green Line fleet by August 2026. The cars, built by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) in partnership with Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd. (TRSL), include a prototype that finally arrived in Bengaluru in January 2025 after a long delivery delay.
The induction follows a testing programme that has been limited to non‑revenue hours on the already‑operational Green Line. A senior BMRCL official said that the narrow testing window has pushed the overall timeline, yet progress remains steady. The trainsets have finished oscillation trials, earned rolling‑stock approval from the Railway Board, and passed signalling‑integration tests. They still need 37 statutory safety clearances and a final inspection by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) before they can serve passengers.
All 23 CRRC‑Titagarh trainsets are earmarked for exclusive use on the Green Line. Once the new fleet is active, the existing six‑coach rakes that currently run on the Green corridor will be moved to the Purple Line, which records the highest passenger footfall in the network. BMRCL officials say that redistributing the rakes should boost train availability and ease crowding on both lines.
The project has a history of delays. In 2019, BMRCL awarded a ₹1,578‑crore contract to CRRC for 216 metro coaches, stipulating that the coaches be manufactured in India. CRRC could not meet that requirement at the time, prompting BMRCL to issue several notices and consider invoking a ₹372‑crore bank guarantee. The impasse was resolved when CRRC entered a joint venture with Titagarh Rail Systems, allowing the coaches to be assembled at Titagarh’s Uttarpara plant in West Bengal.
The new trainsets feature Distance‑To‑Go (DTG) technology and share a design similar to the Communications‑Based Train Control (CBTC)‑compatible rolling stock that operates on the Yellow Line between R.V. Road and Electronics City. Each six‑coach trainset is powered by a 750‑volt direct‑current third‑rail system, matching the rest of the Namma Metro network.
According to the official, the prototype train was originally intended for deployment on the Purple Line but has now been reassigned to the Green Line. Its arrival in January 2025 marked the first time a CRRC‑Titagarh train has been delivered to Bengaluru. The remaining 20 trainsets are still under production at the Uttarpara facility.
BMRCL expects to complete all remaining formalities before the August induction. The final safety inspection and CMRS clearance will be the last regulatory hurdle. Once cleared, the new trains should increase service frequency on the Green Line and relieve congestion during peak hours.
The induction of the new fleet marks a significant milestone for the Namma Metro project, which has evolved from its original three‑coach rakes to six‑coach rakes to accommodate growing ridership. The new trains are expected to enhance operational efficiency and passenger comfort on one of the city’s busiest corridors.
As of now, the only unresolved issues are the completion of the 37 statutory safety clearances and the CMRS inspection. No further delays have been reported, and BMRCL remains on track to introduce the new trainsets by the scheduled August 2026 deadline.
The induction follows a testing programme that has been limited to non‑revenue hours on the already‑operational Green Line. A senior BMRCL official said that the narrow testing window has pushed the overall timeline, yet progress remains steady. The trainsets have finished oscillation trials, earned rolling‑stock approval from the Railway Board, and passed signalling‑integration tests. They still need 37 statutory safety clearances and a final inspection by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) before they can serve passengers.
All 23 CRRC‑Titagarh trainsets are earmarked for exclusive use on the Green Line. Once the new fleet is active, the existing six‑coach rakes that currently run on the Green corridor will be moved to the Purple Line, which records the highest passenger footfall in the network. BMRCL officials say that redistributing the rakes should boost train availability and ease crowding on both lines.
The project has a history of delays. In 2019, BMRCL awarded a ₹1,578‑crore contract to CRRC for 216 metro coaches, stipulating that the coaches be manufactured in India. CRRC could not meet that requirement at the time, prompting BMRCL to issue several notices and consider invoking a ₹372‑crore bank guarantee. The impasse was resolved when CRRC entered a joint venture with Titagarh Rail Systems, allowing the coaches to be assembled at Titagarh’s Uttarpara plant in West Bengal.
The new trainsets feature Distance‑To‑Go (DTG) technology and share a design similar to the Communications‑Based Train Control (CBTC)‑compatible rolling stock that operates on the Yellow Line between R.V. Road and Electronics City. Each six‑coach trainset is powered by a 750‑volt direct‑current third‑rail system, matching the rest of the Namma Metro network.
According to the official, the prototype train was originally intended for deployment on the Purple Line but has now been reassigned to the Green Line. Its arrival in January 2025 marked the first time a CRRC‑Titagarh train has been delivered to Bengaluru. The remaining 20 trainsets are still under production at the Uttarpara facility.
BMRCL expects to complete all remaining formalities before the August induction. The final safety inspection and CMRS clearance will be the last regulatory hurdle. Once cleared, the new trains should increase service frequency on the Green Line and relieve congestion during peak hours.
The induction of the new fleet marks a significant milestone for the Namma Metro project, which has evolved from its original three‑coach rakes to six‑coach rakes to accommodate growing ridership. The new trains are expected to enhance operational efficiency and passenger comfort on one of the city’s busiest corridors.
As of now, the only unresolved issues are the completion of the 37 statutory safety clearances and the CMRS inspection. No further delays have been reported, and BMRCL remains on track to introduce the new trainsets by the scheduled August 2026 deadline.
