Metro rail performance test from Uttara to Agargaon begins Sunday

A performance test of metro rail from Uttara to Agargaon will begin Sunday. No passengers will be carried during the test run, said the officials.

Earlier, the test run was limited from Uttara to Mirpur 10 intersection.

M A N Siddique, managing director of Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) revealed the information during a webinar on Thursday.

He also said the commuters can start using the metro rail from December next year.

The project officials informed the Business Insider Bangladesh that the performance test has been separated into three parts. In the beginning, the test run was set for three stations and the number of stations were increased to six in the last month. Finally, the test run station has been extended to Agargaon, said the DMTCL officials.

Each of the coaches can accommodate 48 passengers, while an entire train has the capacity to carry more than 2,300 passengers in both seating and standing positions.

The company officials also said that the train runs on electricity and can run at a great speed. The top speed of a metro rail is 110 kilometres per hour.

During the trial, the coach ran at 100 kilometer speed at some points. However, the authorities will decide the speed between stations when the trains will be in full-fledge operation.

The total length of Uttara to Motijheel route is around 20.10 kilometres and there would be 16 stations in this route, they said.

Already six metro rail stations have almost been constructed from Uttara to Agargaon part, and the construction of the other stations are underway.