Airport Express Line (Delhi Metro)

Airport Express Line
An elevated stretch of the Airport line.
Overview
Other name(s)Orange Line
StatusOperational
OwnerDelhi Metro
LocaleNew Delhi, India
Termini
Stations7
Service
TypeAirport Express Train
SystemRapid Transit
Operator(s)Delhi Metro Rail Corporation
Rolling stockCAF
Daily ridership82,000 (Jan 2019)[1]
History
Opened23 February 2011
Closed7 July 2012
Reopened22 January 2013
Technical
Line length22.7 km (14.1 mi)
CharacterAt-grade, Underground, and Elevated
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC overhead catenary
Operating speed120 km/h (75 mph)
Route map

Legend
Indian Railways
 New Delhi
Yellow Line
 Shivaji Stadium
Delhi Ring Railway
Durgabai Deshmukh
South Campus
Pink Line
 Dhaula Kuan
Delhi–Gurgaon Expressway
 Delhi Aerocity
Golden Line
 IGI Airport
Indira Gandhi International Airport
Dwarka Sector 21 Depot
Dwarka Sector 21
Blue Line
 Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector - 25

The Airport Express Line or Orange Line is a Delhi Metro line from New Delhi to Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector - 25, linking Indira Gandhi International Airport. The total length of the line is 22.7 km (14.1 mi),[2] of which 15.7 km (9.8 mi) is underground[3] and 7.0 km (4.3 mi), from Buddha Jayanti Park to Mahipalpur, elevated.[4]

On 27 June 2013 Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. informed DMRC of their inability to operate the line beyond 30 June 2013.[5] Following this, DMRC took over operations of Airport Express line from 1 July 2013 with an operations and maintenance team of 100 officials to handle the line.[6]

The line runs at a speed of 120 km/h (75 mph) providing for a 15-minute journey from New Delhi to IGI Airport.[7][8] In 2023, the operational speed of Delhi Airport Express was increased to 120 km/h (75 mph) from 110 km/h (68 mph), making it the fastest metro line in the country. [9]

  1. ^ "Metro's airport express line ridership crosses 50,000". 13 August 2016. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Airport line handed over to Reliance Infra". The Indian Express. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
  3. ^ "Delhi Metro's airport route to get international look with sleek blue parapet". netindian. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 25 June 2010.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference air2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "How Delhi airport metro line became viable". 25 December 2018.
  6. ^ "Delhi Metro takes over operations of Airport Express Line". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 5 July 2013.
  7. ^ "How Delhi's airport express line scripted a comeback". Hindustan Times. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Delhi Metro Update: Delay in services on Airport Express Line". mint. 22 March 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  9. ^ Sunilkumar, Singh Rahul (17 September 2023). "New Delhi to airport now in just 15 minutes, Metro to run at 120 kmph from Sunday". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 17 September 2023.