STEEL THIRD RAIL OF NORTH-SOUTH METRO (BLUE LINE) TO BE REPLACED WITH ALUMINIUM THIRD RAIL SAVING 50000 TON CARBON EMISSION
Kolkata, 13.06.2024
Metro Railway is gearing up its assets to further improve its services.The impact of this change will be massive on commercial Metro services. After a gap of 38 years, Steel-made current conducting Third Rail is going to be replaced with Aluminum Third Rail in North-South Metro (Blue Line). This change shall ensure 84% reduction in energy loss which is Rs. 1 Cr / year per km of route. Once completed, Kolkata Metro will belong to the league of Singapore, London, Moscow, Berlin, Munich and Istanbul Metros where such replacement work of Third Rail has already been done and Metro services are running smoothly there. The replacement work of third rail has started today at Noapara and is expected to be completed in next 2 years. Senior management of a German company, entrusted with the job and Metro officials were present.
Following the footsteps of Singapore, London, Moscow, Berlin, Munich, and Istanbul Metros, Metro Railway has been moving towards installing highly conductive Aluminum Third Rail with stainless steel top replacing the existing steel-made third rail from Dum Dum to Mahanayak Uttam Kumar stretch of North-South Metro (Blue Line). For this, tender has been awarded to a German Company having vast experience in manufacturing as well as replacement work in more than 20 world class Metros. The replacement work will be completed in two years. Such Aluminum Third Rail has already been installed in East-West Metro (Green Line), Joka-Taratala stretch of Purple Line and will be there in all upcoming Corridors of Kolkata Metro.
This Aluminum Third Rail has the capacity to reduce the system voltage drops and subsequent energy losses, thanks to its superior electrical conductivity. This less voltage drop in the Third Rail will help to achieve faster acceleration in the running Metros. As a result, for completing one trip lesser time will be required and in turn Metro will acquire the capability to run services at faster intervals during the peak hours. That will be a improvement in the efficiency of Metro operations. In this new system huge amount of energy will be saved which will in turn help Kolkata Metro to reduce its operational cost. As a result, the entire expenses for replacing this Third Rail could be realized within three years. Additionally Aluminium Third Rail shall reduce carbon emission by 50000 ton in its lifetime.
Apart from this, Aluminum Third Rail will require less maintenance and will be highly reliable and stable. In a hot and humid city like Kolkata this replacement will be very much beneficial and inside the tunnel lesser heat will be generated during the time of contact of Third Rail Current Collector (TRCC) with this Third Rail. For maintenance work, the new Third Rail will not require any welding as two such rails can be joined with the help of splice joint. It will help to maintain the air quality inside the tunnels.
Information provided by Shri Kausik Mitra, Chief Public Relations Officer
