The Hindu : New Delhi News : Metro train catches fire during trial run

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Saturday, Jul 07, 2007
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New Delhi

Metro train catches fire during trial run

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: A minor fire broke out in the under-frame of a Metro train during a trial run in the early hours on Friday. The fire was brought under control in half an hour and no injuries or damage to other property was reported.

Officials of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said trial runs are conducted during non-revenue hours without any passengers on board.

“The incident took place at 1-28 a.m. at the Shadipur station on Line 3, between Indraprastha and Dwarka Sector 9, when the train was undergoing traction motor and converter-inverter temperature rise tests to determine the safety of these equipments under extreme heat condition of up to 260 degrees Celsius with the train running at maximum speed (80 kmph) with simulated full loading (98 tonnes),” a statement issued by the DMRC said. DMRC officials pointed out that such extreme heat conditions and temperatures are artificially generated and do not occur in normal operations as the Metro trains run at lesser speed and stop at each station for 30 seconds. “This break allows the train equipment time to cool. The loaded weight of trains in normal operations is also much less,” the statement said.

A reactor located in the under-frame of one coach started emitting smoke in view of temperature sensitivity and the fire brigade and Metro staff used fire extinguishers and water jets to bring the situation under control. “The smoke was brought fully under control at 2-02 a.m. Senior DMRC officials were present at the station and the affected train was later taken to the Najafgarh depot where further investigations are being carried out. Normal passenger services on all three Metro lines started at 6 a.m. ,” a DMRC official said.

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