New Delhi, Oct 26 (IANS) The Delhi Metro Monday conducted successful trial runs of its service between Yamuna Bank and newly-built station in sector 16 of Noida, the city’s suburb in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh.

According to the Delhi Metro officials, the trials began around 12.30 p.m. and were conducted on the 8-km stretch after a small prayer ceremony was organised at the Yamuna Bank station.

During the trials, the train was run at a slow speed of 10 to 20 kmph. The speed will be gradually increased to 50 kmph and ultimately, a maximum of 80 kmph will be generated.

‘This is the first time that the Delhi Metro crossed the borders of Delhi and entered the National Capital Region. Two trial runs, round trips were conducted successfully between 12:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on this section,’ Delhi Metro spokesman Anuj Dayal said.

Senior Delhi Metro officials were also present during the trial runs.

The officials said the trial runs will continue for a week and are likely to be extended from sector 16 to sector 32 in the first week of November. The entire section from Yamuna Bank to Noida sector 32 may be opened for traffic by middle of November or the beginning of December.

About 53,000 passengers are expected to join the Metro commuters after the opening of the Noida corridor.

Dayal said the signalling system was also being tested during the trials.

‘The response of the train at various speeds, braking of the train and the interconnection with operations control centre (OCC) will also be monitored during the trials. The behaviour of the track system and the overhead electrification will also be checked repeatedly during the trials,’ he said.

This section will be integrated with the existing 34.3 km Yamuna Bank-Dwarka Sector-9 section.