The Delhi Airport Metro Express is a 22,7 km standard gauge (1435 mm) Delhi Metro line from New Delhi Metro Station to Dwarka Sector 21, via International Terminals of the Indira Gandhi Airport. The fleet comprises eight six-car trains supplied by CAF Beasain were imported from Spain.
Known as the Orange line, it was opened at 2 PM on 23 February 2011, though originally scheduled to open by 31 August 2010, well in time for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Of the total length of 22.7 km, the underground stretches comprise 15.7 km. Travel time from New Delhi to the Airport is 19 minutes.
Services were suspended on 8 July 2012 due to a series of technical problems, including cracks in the girders, and seepage of water in the tunnels. The line reopened on 23 January 2013, after repairs. The expected ridership was 42,000 people daily by 2011 as per detailed project report prepared by DMRC, but actual ridership has hovered around 20,000.
Seen here are two rapid transport trains crossing each other on February 10, 2016 on the elevated route beside the flyover close to the Terminal 1 of Delhi airfield. Terminal 1 is not linked by this line, but will be connected by the upcoming Magenta Line of DMRC between Janakpuri West and NOIDA Botanical Garden.
