Bengaluru’s much-anticipated first India-assembled driverless train has arrived, marking a significant milestone for the city’s Namma Metro Yellow Line. The six-coach train, manufactured by Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), reached the Hebbagodi depot in southeast Bengaluru on Sunday after being transported on trailers in late January, according to Deccan Herald.

The coaches are now set to be coupled together and will undergo static and signalling tests. They will also be tested alongside the prototype Chinese-made train, with several anti-collision trials scheduled to commence in the first week of March, as reported by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL).

Following these tests, BMRCL will invite the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) for a formal inspection of the Yellow Line, which spans 19.15 km and will connect RV Road to Bommasandra. The metro agency anticipates receiving a second India-made train by the end of March, with more deliveries planned later this year.

TRSL has pledged to deliver another train by April, with plans to ramp up production to two trains per month by September.

The trainset, which was launched in Uttarpara, West Bengal, on January 6, underwent final testing before being sent to Bengaluru. TRSL is constructing 34 of the 36 trains for the Yellow, Purple, and Green Lines as part of a Rs 1,578-crore contract. The Yellow Line will feature 15 trains, with the first prototype, imported from China, already undergoing trial runs.

BMRCL is hopeful the long-awaited Yellow Line will be operational by April, with four trains initially running at 20-25 minute intervals. The service is projected to accommodate 6,000 to 15,000 passengers per peak hour, with four trains capable of carrying between 8,000 and 10,000 passengers per hour.