India's First: Namo Bharat Aces Dual Metro-RRTS Trial

The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) successfully conducted a full-length timetable trial of the Namo Bharat train on 22 June 2025, completing the 82-km Delhi–Meerut corridor from Sarai Kale Khan to Modipuram in under an hour. Operating at a top speed of 160 kmph, the train maintained its schedule while halting at all stations, demonstrating the system’s efficiency and reliability.

“This marks a major operational milestone in India’s first Namo Bharat corridor, connecting Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut,” NCRTC stated. Notably, the trial also included simultaneous operation of Meerut Metro trains on the same infrastructure—a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, where regional rapid transit and local metro services share tracks.

NCRTC emphasized the corridor's transformational impact, enabling people to live in their hometowns such as Muradnagar, Modinagar, or Meerut while commuting efficiently to major urban centres like Delhi and Ghaziabad.

The trial successfully tested hybrid signalling systems and platform screen doors (PSDs) across all stations. Currently, 11 stations are operational on the 55-km New Ashok Nagar–Meerut South stretch. Final trials and construction are ongoing on the remaining 4.5 km in Delhi and 23 km in Meerut, which includes 13 dedicated Meerut Metro stations.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.