Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) would require a total of 17 more train rakes, keeping in mind the expected completion of the metro’s 11.20-km Pink Line to Kakkanad by August 2027 and the metro’s subsequent approximately 19-km airport extension, according to metro officials.

At present, the metro system operates a total of 25 rakes (including the standby ones) on the 27-km Aluva-Thripunithura Blue Line, with each rake having three coaches.

While 17 more rakes would be needed to ensure operational frequency of approximately one train every six to seven minutes in both the proposed extensions, the availability of between five to eight rakes would enable trains to maintain this frequency in the upcoming Pink Line. Else, the headway on the line might have to be increased to a train every 10 to 11 minutes. At least 10 more trains would be needed if trains were to operate every three minutes as in the Delhi metro, officials said.

A decision on procuring the trains would be taken on the basis of expected passenger demand and other parameters like availability of depot space. Keeping the airport extension in mind and a bulk of international flights operating from here during late night hours, metro trains would have to be operated from between midnight to 5 a.m. as well (during which time the metro does not operate services now). The metro agency has, in the meantime, dropped plans to build an underground metro station at the airport in order to ensure seamless entry to the airport, it is learnt.

People’s representatives, NGOs, and others have stepped up their demand to extend the metro beyond the international airport to the Angamaly railway station. A decision on this will be taken in consultation with the State government, metro sources said.