Alstom will supply 234 driverless Metropolis metro cars and advanced CBTC signalling for Mumbai Metro Line 4. The company will play a vital role in advancing the Mumbai Metro infrastructure and network. The 35.3 km Green Line with 32 stations will significantly improve connectivity, reduce congestion, and support sustainable transport, with all trains manufactured under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Introduction:
In a major stride towards development of Mumbai Metro LIne-4, Alstom, a global leader in sustainable mobility solutions, has partnered with Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to provide state-of-the-art rolling stock, signalling systems, and maintenance services. The ambitious Mumbai Metro Line 4 (Green Line), stretching 35.3 km from Wadala to Kasarvadavali with 32 stations, is set to become one of the city’s longest metro corridors.
The partnership underscores the city’s commitment to world-class, efficient, and eco-friendly urban mobility. Alstom will supply 234 Metropolis metro cars (39 six-car driverless trainsets), along with its cutting-edge Urbalis Forward CBTC signalling technology, and will also undertake five years of fleet and signalling maintenance.
Scope of Collaboration:
The collaboration between Alstom and L&T was commissioned after Mumbai Metro Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) awarded L&T the Integrated Systems Package for the Green Line. This comprehensive package includes rolling stock, CBTC signalling and train control, telecommunication, platform screen doors, depot machinery & plant, and five years of maintenance.
L&T, entrusted with the overall systems package, has roped in Alstom to handle critical segments—rolling stock and signalling—backed by maintenance services. The value of Alstom’s share in this partnership runs into hundreds of millions of euros, underlining the project’s scale and strategic importance.
Features of the Project:
- 39 driverless Metropolis trainsets, each with six cars, to be deployed on Line 4.
- Manufacturing entirely in India under the ‘Make in India’ initiative:
- Design at Alstom’s Bangalore engineering centre.
- Train manufacturing at the Sri City facility (Andhra Pradesh).
- Propulsion systems from Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu).
- Bogies manufactured in Savli (Gujarat).
- Urbalis Forward CBTC signalling technology, delivering Grade of Automation 4 (GoA4)—commonly referred to as driverless operation.
- Establishment of an integrated Operation Control Centre (OCC) at Mandale depot and a Backup Control Centre (BCC) at Mogharpada.
- Five years of FlexCare Perform maintenance services ensuring safety, availability, and reliability of both rolling stock and signalling.
Alstom’s Contribution to Mumbai’s Metro Network:
Alstom is no stranger to Mumbai’s metro ecosystem. The company has previously delivered driverless Metropolis trains for the Aqua Line, which now serves more than 1.6 million passengers daily. Alstom has also provided signalling and telecom systems for Mumbai Metro Lines 2 & 7, and signalling for Lines 7A and 9.
By adding Line 4 to its portfolio, Alstom is further consolidating its role as a backbone partner in Mumbai’s mass transit development.
Advanced Rolling Stock:
The driverless Metropolis trainsets stand out for their modern design, comfort, and accessibility. Features include:
- Spacious interiors with optimal seating and standing capacity.
- Wheelchair-friendly accessibility and bike racks to cater to diverse commuter needs.
- Interior airflow cooling for passenger comfort in Mumbai’s climate.
- Electrical braking systems for energy efficiency.
- Cybersecurity features to protect onboard systems from emerging digital threats.
The Sri City facility, with its annual capacity to produce 480 metro cars, has already delivered trains for Delhi Metro Phase IV, Chennai Metro Phase II, and international projects like Montreal and Sydney. This project strengthens India’s position as a global hub for rail manufacturing and exports.
Smart Signalling with CBTC:
At the heart of Line 4’s efficiency will be Alstom’s Urbalis Forward CBTC signalling system. This system enables high-frequency, driverless train operations by reducing headways, thus increasing train frequency and passenger throughput.
Key benefits of the CBTC system include:
- Reduced travel time across the 35.3 km corridor.
- Lower CO2 emissions by promoting public transport adoption over private vehicles.
- Enhanced safety and punctuality, ensuring a reliable travel experience.
- A cybersecurity-certified development process to protect the network from potential threats.
With over 190 CBTC metro lines worldwide, 90 of which are already operational, Alstom is a global leader in this domain. In India alone, 18 metro lines are either operational or under development with Alstom’s signalling solutions.
Benefits for Mumbai and Its People:
The commissioning of Line 4 with Alstom and L&T’s partnership brings several long-term benefits for Mumbai:
- Enhanced connectivity: Linking Wadala to Kasarvadavali, while integrating with Eastern Express Highway, Monorail, and other metro lines.
- Economic upliftment: Reduced travel time will boost productivity, reduce logistic bottlenecks, and promote local businesses.
- Environmental sustainability: Shift from road-based transport to metro will cut down on emissions and congestion.
- Reliability and safety: Maintenance-backed rolling stock and signalling ensure maximum availability.
Insight:
Mr. Ling Fang, Region President, APAC, Alstom said, “We are honoured to be chosen for the prestigious Mumbai Metro Line 4 project, further strengthening our long-standing association with the city of Mumbai. Alstom-built trains and signalling solutions are already serving on other Mumbai Metro lines. This ambitious new project presents more opportunities for us to provide best-in-class solutions to the commuters and contribute to elevating the financial capital’s infrastructure”.
Alstom’s Global Leadership:
Globally, Alstom’s Metropolis metro platforms serve more than 80 customers across multiple continents. Its FlexCare Perform maintenance services are recognized for optimizing asset lifecycle performance, while its CBTC expertise has transformed rail operations in 32 countries.
For Mumbai, this global experience will translate into a robust, future-ready urban transport system, setting benchmarks for Indian metro projects.
Conclusion:
The Mumbai Metro Line-4 project showcases the phenomenal capabilities of Alstom in the rolling stock manufacturing sector as well as signaling systems. By blending world-class rolling stock, smart signalling, and reliable maintenance, the project will transform urban mobility in Mumbai. This will make travel faster, greener, and more sustainable for millions of commuters.
Source: Alstom – Press Release | Image Credit: Alstom
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