RAPIDX regional train service to open for public this month
This portion has five stations—Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot. Work at all these stations had completed in June this year and they are ready for operations.
“In another six months from now, 25 kms more will be added to the RAPIDX network.
Stations at Muradnagar, Modinagar North, Modinagar South, and Meerut South will be ready for operations,” a senior government official told ET adding that this will mean border-to-border connectivity will be achieved between Delhi and Meerut using the RAPIDX service.
These sections are part of the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project. The first phase of the operation of RAPIDX train services covered the distance between Sahibabad and Duhai while the second is between Duhai to Meerut South station.
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is overseeing the development of the rapid rail service.
Trains on the RRTS are expected to run at an operational speed of 160 kmph. This will be the first railway system in the country that is being opened for operation across its entire length at such high speed.
Last month NCRTC said that a crucial construction of the RRTS viaduct over a section of Delhi Metro’s Blue Line was completed.
Construction on the rapid rail service began in June 2019. Commissioning of the full 82.15 km corridor, along with Metro services in Meerut, is scheduled for June 2025.
According to internal estimates, daily ridership is pegged at up to 800,000 passengers.
But despite this high footfall, revenue from the passenger segment is expected to remain constrained.
To address this concern, NCRTC is exploring avenues to shore up more alternate revenue streams such as advertising. Moving small goods cargo, also
