Colourful interiors, bright steel exteriors, cushioned seats and GPS. That’s the luxury you could experience while travelling in a suburban train after two years, if all goes according to the plan.
Colourful interiors, bright steel exteriors, cushioned seats and GPS. That’s the luxury you could experience while travelling in a suburban train after two years, if all goes according to the plan.
On Thursday, the World Bank approved the manufacture of new trains that are to be procured under phase-II of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project with the electrical equipment to be installed by the German firm Bombardier Transportation.
The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC), a subsidiary of the Indian Railways that is responsible for improving the infrastructure of the Mumbai suburban railway system, is co-ordinating the project.
The MRVC had appointed the National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedabad to redesign the new trains with advanced features that are commuter-friendly.
According to the draft design proposed by the NID, the first-class seats will be bright red in colour and those in second-class will be blue. The flooring and other interiors will be upgraded and improved.
"There will be many advanced features in the new trains such as more comfortable seats, improved blowers and GPS trackers. Talks are on with the manufacturers, Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, to finalise the steel body frame,'' said Prakash Rao Vazalwar, chief operations manager of MRVC.
"The new trains will be faster; they will run at 110 kmph. Currently, suburban trains run at 100 kmph,'' Vazalwar added.
The steel body exteriors will add an element of durability in the new trains.
"One big difference will be the visible distinction between the first-class and second-class compartments. If the new proposal of converting all seats in second-class compartment with cushion seats is passed, colour and aesthetics will have to be different in the first-class compartments,'' another official said.
Four international joint ventures — Zhuzhou CSR Times Electric from China, Bombardier from Germany, Alsthom from France and Mitusubishi Electric Corporation — had placed bids for this project.
Bombardier Transportation bagged the project by placing the lowest technically and commercially responsive offer.
Officials said that Bombardier will now sign the contract and then actual work of manufacturing shall begin. The entire process will take about two years.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}