Operations begin on next phase of Yellow Line as Alstom equipment enters service
The Indore Metro’s Yellow Line has moved into the next operational phase with Alstom’s Movia trains and Urbalis Forward communications-based train control (CBTC) entering revenue service, the company said on Sunday. The rollout increases the metro’s operational reach and brings new signalling and rolling-stock technology to the city’s mass transit network.
Alstom’s contract with the Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MPMRCL) covers the supply of 52 Movia trainsets and a comprehensive 15-year maintenance package, which includes seven years of maintenance for signalling, train control and telecommunications systems, the company reported. So far, 23 of 25 required trainsets for the current phase have been delivered and 10 Alstom-equipped trainsets are running on the Yellow Line.
- Yellow Line span: 31.5 km (16.72 km currently in operation)
- Stations in operation: 16 on the 16.72 km mainline
- Train configuration: 3-car Movia sets, up to 80 km/h
Alstom emphasised that the solutions for Indore were developed and manufactured wholly within India across six industrial sites and five engineering centres, aligned with the Government of India’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. The rolling stock is built at Alstom’s Savli facility in Gujarat.
“This major milestone expands the reach of the Indore’s metro network, following the successful launch of the super priority corridor with Alstom’s solutions,”
The three-car units are rated to carry 144 seated and 981 standing passengers, with dedicated spaces for wheelchair users. They employ energy-efficient traction systems with regenerative braking and feature onboard Train Control and Management Systems (TCMS). Alstom said the trains are equipped with continuous CCTV surveillance and intelligent features such as unattended object identification and empty train detection, and provide direct communication channels between the operator and control centre.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total Yellow Line length | 31.5 km |
| Current operational mainline | 16.72 km across 16 stations |
| Trainsets contracted | 52 Movia trainsets |
| Train capacity (per 3-car set) | 144 seated, 981 standing |
The CBTC system—Urbalis Forward—enables continuous communication between trains and the control centre and supports safer, higher-frequency operations. Operating at Grade of Automation 1 (GoA1) with Automatic Train Protection (ATP) on the mainline, the system allows for improved headways and operational reliability compared with conventional fixed-block signalling, Alstom said.
Operational support for the line is provided by the Gandhinagar Depot and Test Track, which serves as the maintenance and stabling facility for the Alstom-equipped trains. Alstom also noted integration of automatic track inspection capabilities into the TCMS to support asset condition monitoring and maintenance planning.
For Indore residents, the introduction of additional trainsets and modern signalling is expected to increase the metro’s capacity and resilience as the network expands. The move also ties into broader state plans to develop urban transport infrastructure: a locally manufactured fleet and a long-term maintenance commitment aim to lower life-cycle costs and ensure continuity of operations.
City transport planners will now need to focus on last-mile connectivity, feeder services and station-area planning to convert the enhanced capacity into measurable commuter benefits, particularly for low-income and peripheral neighbourhoods that depend on affordable mass transit. With Alstom undertaking 15 years of maintenance, MPMRCL will have an extended vendor relationship to manage on-track performance, spares and system upgrades.
As the Yellow Line expands beyond the presently operational 16.72 km, Alstom said it will continue to execute delivery commitments for the remaining trainsets and systems. The firm described the rollout as part of its long-term partnership in transforming mass transit in Madhya Pradesh.
