BMRCL is set to induct three new CRRC-Titagarh six-coach trainsets on the Green Line, easing overcrowding for 170,000 daily commuters and triggering a fleet reshuffle that will also boost Purple Line services.
Peak-hour overcrowding on the Green Line is about to get some relief. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is gearing up to introduce three new six-coach trainsets on the 33-kilometre Green Line corridor by August 2026, marking the first batch of a larger fleet overhaul that will reshape operations on both the Green and Purple lines.
Who Is Building the New Trains?
The trainsets are being manufactured by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) in partnership with Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd (TRSL). Production is underway at Titagarh's Uttarpara factory in West Bengal, with a total order of 21 six-coach trainsets destined exclusively for the Green Line.
The stainless-steel trains feature modern interiors, reduced power consumption, and enhanced safety systems. Unlike the Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) technology used on the newer Yellow Line for fully driverless operations, these Green Line trains will use Distance To Go (DTG) signalling — a proven system that still requires loco pilots in the cab.
What Changes for Commuters?
The Green Line (Madavara to Silk Institute, 32 stations) currently serves approximately 170,000 passengers daily, running services at 5 to 6-minute intervals. With three additional trains entering service, BMRCL expects to reduce headway during peak hours and ease the chronic standing-room-only conditions that commuters face on stretches like Mantri Square Sampige Road to Majestic.
But the bigger story is the fleet reshuffle that follows. Once all 21 CRRC-Titagarh trainsets are operational on the Green Line, BMRCL plans to shift 17 existing BEML-manufactured trainsets from the Green Line to the Purple Line — Bengaluru's busiest metro corridor. This will significantly boost train availability on both lines without procuring additional rolling stock for the Purple Line.
Where Do the Safety Clearances Stand?
Before passengers can board the new trains, BMRCL needs to clear a demanding checklist. Oscillation trials have been completed successfully, the Railway Board has given its approval, and signalling integration tests are done. However, the trains still need to pass 37 statutory safety clearances and receive a final Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) inspection before entering revenue service.
Delivery Timeline
- August 2026: First 3 trainsets enter passenger service on the Green Line
- December 2026: 8 to 10 additional trainsets expected to arrive
- March 2027: Full delivery of all 21 trainsets (ahead of the contractual June 2027 deadline)
- Post-delivery: 17 BEML trains gradually shift from Green Line to Purple Line
System-Wide Context
The fleet expansion comes at a time of sustained ridership growth for Namma Metro. System-wide daily ridership reached approximately 916,000 passengers as of April 2026, across three operational lines — the Purple Line (38 stations), the Green Line (32 stations), and the Yellow Line (16 stations). With the Pink Line's Bannerghatta Road corridor also nearing its launch, Bengaluru's metro network is approaching a capacity threshold that the new rolling stock is designed to address.
For commuters on the Green Line, the immediate takeaway is straightforward: shorter waits and less crowding, starting as early as this month.
Sources
- NativePlanet — Bengaluru Metro Plans to Introduce Three New Six-Coach Trainsets on the Green Line
- TradeBrains — Major Relief for Bengaluru Commuters: Namma Metro Green Line to Get 3 New Six-Coach Trains
- NewsFirstPrime — Namma Metro Green Line to Induct Three New Six-Coach Trains by August 2026
- News Karnataka — Bengaluru Metro to Add Six-Coach Trains on Green Line