Putting Lucknow on metro track

India’s cities are experiencing rapid population growth, and mass transit systems including metros are expanding in major urban areas across the country. This includes the city of Lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh, with a growing population of more than 3 million citizens.

The state government has launched the Lucknow Metro Rail Project to improve commuting times in the city and clear up the increasingly traffic-clogged roads. In September 2015, Alstom won a contract from the Lucknow Metro Rail Corporation (LRMC) to supply 20 Metropolis trainsets.

The four-car trainsets are designed to carry around 1,100 passengers, and Hitachi Energy is delivering two rugged, integrated underframe traction transformers for each to ensure reliable service and comfort despite heavy daily use. Equipped with an ester oil cooling unit, Hitachi Energy’s environmentally-friendly units are a low-noise, energy-efficient traction transformer solution.

They are being manufactured locally at Hitachi Energy’s state-of-the-art transformer facility in Vadodara, India, providing the customer with high-quality, locally-built products.

The new metro line will be about 23-km long and include 19 elevated and three underground stations. An initial 8.4-km long section has been inaugurated in September 2017. On completion, the line is expected to carry about 430,000 daily passengers at first, increasing to more than 1 million by 2030.