Alstom Wins Chennai Metro Phase 2’s 78 Coach Contract

Alstom Transport India emerged as the lowest bidder to manufacture and supply 78 coaches for Chennai Metro Line-4’s Rolling Stock package after Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) on Tuesday opened financial bids.

26 3-car trains on this line of the 118.9 km Phase 2 project will service Poonamallee Bypass – Light House through 28 (18 elevated & 10 underground) stations, and be stabled & maintained at Poonamallee Depot in western Chennai.

CMRL had originally invited tenders for this rolling stock package in December 2020. After receiving 3 bids in September 2021, the tendering process was abruptly cancelled in November due to “administrative reasons”. Bids were shortly re-invited with a 1960 day (5.37 year deadline) for which CMRL again received 3 bids.

Financial Bid Values

Firm	Bid (Rs. Crore)
Alstom Transport	946.92
BEML	1016.27
Titagarh	1028.19

Package: Phase – II / ARE03A

Brief Scope: Design, manufacture, supply, testing, commissioning of standard gauge metro rolling stock (electrical multiple units) and training of personnel for Chennai Metro Project Phase II

CMRL plans to run these trains in a DMC + TC + DMC configuration with the ability to operate at Grade of Automation level-4 for “driverless” Unattended Train Operations (UTO).

Like other Phase 2 packages, CMRL’s estimate for this is unknown, so I can’t provide an assessment on how Alstom’s bid is placed and what the next steps look like.

If awarded, this will be Alstom’s 2nd major contract for Chennai after Phase 1’s 52 train contract, and they will most likely manufacture these out of their nearby facility at Sri City, Andhra Pradesh.

For Phase 2’s 3 corridors, CMRL in the past has revealed they are looking procure 288 coaches and wet-lease 126 coaches to run services. Here’s a status table for all 3 rolling stock packages:

Line	Coaches to be Procured	Coaches to be Leased
Line-3 & Line-5	210 (Package ARE02 – Bids to be opened May 12)	126 (Package ARE04) – Cancelled
Line-4	Alstom is lowest bidder	none

A list of all Chennai Metro Phase 2 tenders (civil, systems) and their status can be viewed here.

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– TMRG

Hat-tip: Kiran & Clevin