Delhi Metro Engineers Enable Airport Express Link To Operate At Higher Speed Of 100 Kmph Amid Major Challenges

A dedicated technical team deployed by the DMRC has ensured timely completion of replacing over two lakh high frequency tension clamps on the rails, to speed up Metro trains up to 100 kmph on the Airport Express Link network.

Increasing the operational speed of the Airport Express Link (AEL) to 100 kmph was a major engineering challenge for Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)’s engineers.

Meticulous planning, round-the-clock supervision, and determination to not let the work impact passenger operations were the key highlights of this mammoth effort.  

This was one of the most challenging technological advancements in the history of Metro train operations in the county, say officials.

A detailed mechanism for the replacement of certain rail components, maintenance, and repair of civil structures, and re-profiling of certain rolling stock components were put in place and the target was achieved only within six months, much ahead of the expected deadlines.

The major activity included the replacement of more than 2.6 lakh existing tension clamps located on the rails across the entire AEL network with high-frequency tension clamps, to make them more compatible with the revised speed strength.

It was an extremely challenging task for the maintenance team to replace all these clamps for the entire corridor within the allotted maintenance block hours.      

More than 100 technical staff were deployed each night for the replacement of these clamps to ensure timely completion. After the completion of tension clamp replacement work, each fastening was checked thoroughly.

The entire work on the up and down lines (46 km total) of the AEL was completed within just six months due to the tireless efforts of the engineering team from different concerned wings of DMRC, say officials.

Since the Airport Express Line hosts thousands of national and international passengers every day, efforts were taken to ensure that the maintenance activities are carried out causing the least possible interference to Metro operations on the line.

At some smaller sections on the line, single-line movement had to be planned in the non-peak revenue hours. The passengers were suitably guided through announcements, social media posts, and press statements about the alternative routes during these affected hours.

The operational speed of the Metro trains on the Airport Express Line (AEL) has now been increased from 90 kmph to 100 kmph from today (22 March) onwards after receiving the mandatory approval from the commissioner of metro rail safety.

The speed of trains will further be increased to 120 kmph in a graded manner subsequently.

The total travel time between New Delhi Airport Line to Dwarka sector-21 Metro stations after the current increase in the operational speed of metro trains on the AEL, will be around 21 minutes.

Further, the travel time on the AEL will be reduced to 19 minutes only, after the maximum speed limit of 120 kmph is implemented in future.

The 23-km-long Airport Express Line is the fastest Metro connection in India providing seamless connectivity from the New Delhi Railway Station to Dwarka sector-21 through IGI Airport T-3 and Aerocity.

The average daily passenger traffic journeys on the Airport Express Line is around 65,000.