Delhi is set to join the international league of cities with a Metro link from the airport to the heart of the metropolis as the Airport Express Line opens shortly. The line, built at a cost of Rs 5,700 crore, has a number of pros and cons, but it will offer commuters a comfortable and cost-effective mode of transportation to the airport. The line will start operating as soon as the CISF takes charge of security at the stations.

After numerous delays, the commencement of commercial activities seems to be on track after the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit, inaugurated the link last week. The line starts from the city's biggest railway station, New Delhi Railway Station, and will be a boon for transit passengers. Travelling by road from the railway station to the airport takes between 60 and 90 minutes depending on the traffic. But with trains running at 135 kmph on the Airport Express Link, travel time drops to just 18 minutes.

The six-coach trains can seat 800 passengers and have been supplied by Spanish firm CAF. The coaches are specially designed to accommodate luggage in overhead racks.

Info on screens

In line with the airport Metro trains in international cities, these trains have more seats but they compromise on the area available for standing passengers. There are LCD screens inside the train for displaying important information such as flight schedules and estimated time of arrival at the next station. According to Reliance Infra, the company in charge of operating the line, the screens will also be used for advertising and entertainment.

Passengers have the advantage of checking in their bags directly at the express link's stations — called City Air Terminals. The terminals have check-in counters with automated baggage handling systems. It is not clear how many airlines will be present at these terminals at the time of the launch but there is likely to be a mix of international and domestic carriers.

However, logistical problems could result in airlines insisting on an earlier deadline for check-in at these Metro stations. The large size of most of these stations also means that, after security checks, walking to the platform would take between 15 and 20 minutes. Wheelchairs are provided on request. The stations will have automated ticket machines and an online flight information display system. An additional aid for passengers is the integration of the Metro station at the IGI Airport's Terminal 3 with the main terminal. Passengers taking the Airport Express Line would not need to step out on the public road to get in and out of the arrival and departure areas.

The platforms are up to international standards and are spacious enough to accommodate a large number of passengers. Safety measures, such as platform screen doors, have been installed as the trains travel at high speeds.

Saving on cab fare

There is a definite cost advantage for most passengers. Tickets on the airport line will cost Rs 100 while cab fares range between Rs 200 and Rs 600, or more, depending on the location. There are six stations at present — New Delhi Railway Station, Shivaji Stadium, Dhaula Kuan, Delhi Aero City, Indira Gandhi International Airport and Dwarka Sector-21. As these stations do not cover most of the city, passengers will have to take the regular Metro lines, which are often crowded, to get to New Delhi Railway Station and then change to the airport line.

Thus, to avail of the cost advantage, passengers may have to compromise on comfort. The airport line becomes most advantageous for tourists and people staying in Connaught Place and areas close to the stations on the airport line. As a number of offices are located in Connaught Place, business passengers would also benefit as they can get to the airport in a short time and straight from the office.

The Airport Express Link might not be useful for international passengers as initially the link would run from 6 am to 10 pm. However, there are plans to increase the timings to accommodate passengers from late-night flights.

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