Delhi Metro's Magenta Line becomes country's first completely unmanned train network

NEW DELHI: All 29 trains on Magenta Line have now become completely unmanned. While Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has removed the drivers’ cabins, an attendant is present after a gap of three-four trains, but they will be removed in a phased manner.
TOI had reported in June that the trains on Magenta Line would become fully automated. “Magenta Line is now completely driverless.We have removed the driver’s cabins from 29 trains, creating more space for passengers. We will remove attendants in phases,” said a DMRC official. After Magenta Line, the same step will be taken on Pink Line.
Delhi Metro’s fully automated network is currently about 97km long and available on Magenta and Pink lines. It is the only driverless train operation network in India. In the upcoming corridors under DMRC’s Phase-IV expansion, too, the train operations will be driverless.
The driverless train operation facility was launched on the Janakpuri West-Botanical Garden Magenta Line in Dec 2020 and was introduced on the Majlis Park-Shiv Vihar Pink Line in Nov 2021. But till now, a train operator used to be present to instil a sense of confidence and assistance.
“We will try to implement this soon in Phase IV with the experience received on these two lines. For driverless operations in Phase IV, we have taken some measures like a track monitoring system with cameras installed on the tracks,” DMRC managing director Vikas Kumar earlier told TOI.
A DMRC official had earlier said, “Driverless trains bring more flexibility in the operations, and reduce human interventions and human errors. The system also helps in improving the availability of coaches for operations. The driverless trains eliminate the manual process of checking done before induction, subsequently reducing burden on train operators. The parking on the stabling line in depots is also done automatically.”
DMRC will procure 312 coaches — 52 trains — for driverless operations for Phase IV’s priority corridors. “DMRC has already started reaping benefits of driverless operations on its two lines in terms of increased availability of coaches on service. The reliability of the trains has increased manifold due to exhaustive self-tests done before induction in service every day, eliminating all possibilities of human error,” an official said earlier.