Kolkata Metro Railway

Kolkata Metro Railway is set to become member of elite club of London, Moscow, Berlin, Munich, and Istanbul Metro.

About Kolkata Metro Railway:

• Kolkata Metro Railway, India’s first Metro built by Indian Railways in 1984, has been serving as a lifeline for Kolkata, for nearly 40 years.

How will Kolkata Metro Railway become member of elite club?

• Kolkata Metro Railway, which has relied on steel Third Rail for four decades, is now upgrading to composite Aluminium Third Rail for all new and existing corridors.
• This transition will place Kolkata among prestigious metros such as those in London, Moscow, Berlin, Munich, and Istanbul, all of which have made the shift.

What is a Third Rail?

• A third rail is a method of providing electric power to trains, trams, and other rail vehicles.
• It involves placing an additional rail, often located near the ground, alongside or between the two main rails of a railway track.
  • This third rail carries the electrical current that powers the train’s electric propulsion system.

Advantages of aluminium composite Third Rail over steel Third Rail:

• Reduced Energy Loss: Reduction in resistive current loss and improved Traction voltage level as the resistance of steel Third Rail is six times higher than composite Aluminium Third Rail.
• Efficiency Gains: Corridor equipped with Aluminium composite Third Rail requires less Traction Substation compared to steel Third Rail, resulting in a direct capital saving.
  • A substation is a high-voltage electric system facility which is used to switch generators, equipment, and circuits or lines in and out of a system.
• Enhanced Performance: The reduced voltage drop facilitates quicker acceleration with the same metro setup, improving overall operational efficiency.
• Lower Maintenance Costs: The Aluminium composite Third Rail negates the need for repainting every five years, while reducing the frequency of dimension measurement and the risk of damage from rust.
• Elevated Train Operations: Train operations benefit from improved efficiency and headway, contributing to smoother and more punctual journeys.
• Sustainable Impact: The adoption of the composite Aluminium Third Rail will bring substantial energy efficiency gains and a considerable reduction in the metro’s carbon footprint.

Ref: Source