Bengaluru: Bengaluru’s Yellow Line Metro has received its fifth trainset, which arrived at the depot early on Tuesday (September 30, 2025). Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) officials said the train will be inducted into service by mid-October after a mandatory testing cycle, improving train frequency on the 18.82-km corridor connecting R.V. Road to Bommasandra to around 15 minutes.
Testing and commissioning
The trainset was transported from Kolkata-based Titagarh Rail Systems Limited on trailers in the early hours of September 19. Once assembled at the depot, it will undergo a 20-day testing cycle.
A senior BMRCL official explained, “The trainset must undergo various tests, including system integration with signalling, telecommunications, and power supply networks. Only after successful completion will it be inducted into service.”
The Yellow Line, an important corridor linking southern Bengaluru neighbourhoods and Electronics City to the metro network, was inaugurated on August 10 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and opened for commercial operations the following day.
Addressing peak-hour congestion
At launch, only three trains were available, causing peak-hour waits of over 25 minutes and severe overcrowding. The addition of a fourth trainset on September 10 reduced frequency to 19 minutes, offering some relief. Officials say the arrival of the fifth trainset will ease congestion further, though additional trainsets will still be required to reach optimal service levels.
Each train on the corridor is equipped with Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) technology, enabling driverless operations, a first for Namma Metro. While the CBTC system allows intervals between trains to be reduced from 150 seconds to 90 seconds, manual operation by trained locomotive pilots continues during the initial phase.
Delays in rolling stock and project challenges
The Yellow Line project has faced delays in the procurement of rolling stock. Civil works for the corridor were completed nearly a year before commissioning, but trains were not available on schedule.
In 2019, Chinese rolling stock manufacturer CRRC was awarded a ₹1,578-crore contract to supply 216 coaches, with a requirement to establish local manufacturing. After failing to meet this, CRRC faced notices from BMRCL and risked invocation of a ₹372-crore bank guarantee.
The project gained momentum when CRRC partnered with Titagarh Rail Systems, which began supplying trainsets. Despite this, deliveries remain behind schedule, compelling BMRCL to open the Yellow Line with a skeletal fleet.
Looking ahead
With the fifth trainset expected to enter service in mid-October, commuters can expect shorter wait times and reduced overcrowding. However, BMRCL emphasises that full operational efficiency on the corridor will require additional trainsets to meet peak demand and fully leverage CBTC-enabled signalling.
The gradual increase in rolling stock marks an important step in enhancing Bengaluru’s metro network, providing relief to commuters on one of the city’s busiest transit corridors.