Pink Line prototype metro train moved to Kothanur depot

The six-coach prototype train for Bengaluru Metro’s much-awaited Pink Line was moved overnight from the BEML Rail Complex at New Thippasandra to the Kothanur depot on Monday, officials said.

The train set covered a distance of nearly 20 km, with the transportation carried out during night hours as the movement of heavy trailers was permitted only at night in the city limits.

According to officials of the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), the prototype train, recently rolled out by BEML Ltd., was dismantled and transported in parts on trailers before being reassembled at the depot.

Following its arrival at Kothanur, the BMRCL will begin inspection bay checks and conduct mainline trials to assess the performance and safety of the rolling stock.

“The entire exercise was conducted at night to comply with traffic regulations. After reassembly at the depot, the train will undergo a detailed inspection and testing process,” an official told The Hindu.

The BEML unveiled the prototype of the new driverless metro train on December 11, 2025. The train sets have been designed for Namma Metro’s Phase-2 corridors, including Phase 2A and Phase 2B. The Pink Line, one of the most anticipated additions to Bengaluru’s metro network, will connect Kalena Agrahara in south Bengaluru to Nagawara in the north.

After the preliminary checks are completed, the BMRCL will initiate the process of securing mandatory statutory clearances from the Ministry of Railways, the Research Designs and Standards Organisation, and the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety.

The Officials said that the rolling stock would undergo a series of standard tests before being cleared for passenger operations.

The Pink Line corridor is planned to be commissioned in two phases by the end of 2026, significantly enhancing north-south connectivity of the city.