Airport Express Line

Indira Gandhi International Airport is linked to the New Delhi metro station via a metro line known as the Delhi Airport Metro Express (DAME) or the Orange line that goes up to Dwarka Sector 21. The operation of this line is under Delhi Airport Metro Express Pvt. Limited (DAMEL) which is a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure. After missing four of the previous deadline, this line was finally opened and made functional on 23 February 2011 at 2 p.m. The total cost of building it was INR 57 billion. Reliance Infra paid INR 28.85 billion (U$580m). Also, Reliance Infra will have to pay some fees based on a Revenue-share model.

The line stretches over a total length of 22.7 km. 15.7 km is underground while the remaining 7 km from Buddha Jayanti Park to Mahipalpur is elevated. Unlike, the rest of the metro that has a maximum speed of 80 km/h, this line can travel at speed up to 135 km/h and it takes only 18 minutes to reach Airport T3 from New Delhi.

Services

Due to some technical problems, the service was suspended on July 7, 2012. It was reopened January 22, 2013. However, the speed was cut down to only 50 km/h after reopening. As a result, the total travel time was extended to 40 minutes. Reliance Infrastructure Ltd informed DMRC on 27 June 2013 that they would not be able to continue operating the line after 30 June 2013. Therefore, the operations of the Airport Express line were taken over by DMRC. An Operations and Maintenance team was set up to handle this line.

Initially, it was planned that the train service would be open 24 hours a day and the frequency of trains would be one in every 10 minutes but now, the train operates only from 5:15 in the morning to 11:30 in the evening and has a 15-minute frequency.

According to DMRC project report, the train was expected to carry around 42,000 passengers daily by 2011. But, as of now, it carries only around 20,000 passengers.

Stations

City Airport Terminals (CATs) are the 6 metro stations on the metro line. Security is the priority here and all the stations have state-of-the-art facilities like large x-ray baggage scanners, explosive detectors, dog squads, under vehicle scanners and quick reaction teams. The full height platform screen doors help in better air-conditioning and avoid any unwanted incident. Apart from this, a network of CCTV cameras relaying live images to the station control room also ensures the security of the station. The Centra Industrial Security Force (CISF) handles the security of not only the airport metro but of all other stations of DMRC. People on wheelchairs can easily access these stations that are disabled friendly. Ramps with mild slope leading to the elevators, specially designed convenient elevators are provided for the physically challenged. These elevators are capable of carrying stretchers and help call points are provided at different points of stations and trains. Help can be sought by disabled person by pressing these call buttons in case of any emergency. There are Braille letters on the elevator buttons so that it can be used by visually impaired.

Tracks

The advanced RHEDA-2000 signalling technology is fitted onto the tracks to ensure security. On paper, it allows the trains to travel up to a maximum speed of 350 km/h which is almost three times the real maximum speed of the trains at present. The cost of the entire 22.5 km stretch of the tracks is up to 40-50% more than the normal cost due to them being Ballast-less tracks. These tracks cost more but do not take any longer to lay than the traditional ones. They reduce noise levels as the rails rest on rubber pads.

The girders used for the 7 km elevated stretch between Buddha Jayanti Park and Mahipalpur are 25 m long and were used for the first time in Indian. The total weight of 504 girders used is 120 tons. They were all casted in Mahipalpur and transported to their respective destinations on 35m long trailers with 64 tyres in each.

Wi-Fi Services

On January 13, 2012, Wifi services were introduced by the Airport Express on all six stations along the route making it the first line to provide such a service. In future, it is expected that there would be connectivity available even inside the trains travelling on this route. YOU Broadband & Cable India Limited is the service provider. After the Namma Metro in Bangalore, Delhi metro is the second metro in India to provide this service.

Timings

• The train service starts at 5:30 AM when the first train departs from New Delhi. After this, the train departs at 5:15 AM from Dwarka Sector 21.
• The last train on this line from New Delhi Station departs at 11:30 PM and that from Dwarka Sector 21 at 11:15 PM.
• The time gap between two consecutive trains is 15 minutes interval. However, the frequency of trains as well as the operation timing may increase in future depending up on the requirements and traffic.

Tickets

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