Mumbai is set to receive 238 additional air-conditioned suburban train rakes several years earlier than originally planned, after Indian Railways revised its manufacturing strategy. The first new AC local is now targeted for 2027, while the complete fleet is expected to be delivered by 2030.
Under the earlier schedule, series production through technology partners was expected to begin only after an extended procurement process. This would have pushed the arrival of the first rake to around 2030 and completion of the entire fleet to 2034.
Parallel production at three railway factories
Under the revised plan, the 238 rakes will be manufactured simultaneously at three railway production facilities: Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala and Modern Coach Factory (MCF) in Raebareli.
Of the total fleet, 47 rakes will be procured under Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)-3, while the remaining 191 will come under MUTP-3A.
The train expansion is part of an estimated Rs 22,000 crore investment in Mumbai’s suburban railway system, which includes new corridors, additional tracks, platform extensions for 15-coach trains and yard remodelling.
AC locals to get upgraded features
The new trains are expected to offer several improvements over the existing AC local fleet. Steel seats are proposed to be replaced with cushioned seating, while upgraded HVAC systems will be installed to improve cooling and ventilation.
Each coach is planned to have two 25-tonne-capacity air-conditioning units, compared with the existing 15-tonne units. Charging points near individual seats and passenger information and infotainment screens are also proposed.
Higher acceleration and speed
The new AC locals are being designed for improved acceleration and higher operating speeds. Their power supply capacity is proposed to increase from 33% to 50%, helping the trains accelerate faster after station stops.
This could offset the additional 15-20 seconds required for opening and closing doors at stations. The proposed maximum speed is 130 kmph, compared with approximately 100-110 kmph for existing suburban trains.
The upgraded fleet will also require supporting infrastructure. Two new EMU car sheds will be developed by Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) at Bhivpuri on Central Railway and Vangaon on Western Railway for maintenance of the new trains.
The accelerated manufacturing plan is expected to align fleet expansion with the ongoing upgrade of Mumbai’s suburban railway infrastructure. If the timeline is maintained, commuters could begin seeing the benefits of the additional AC services from 2027, with the entire 238-rake fleet expected by 2030.
Source: The Free Press Journal
