Mumbai’s suburban trains are all set for a change as part of Phase I of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project. The trains will be given a ‘corporate look’
Mumbai’s suburban trains are all set for a change as part of Phase I of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project. The trains will be given a ‘corporate look’ and coaches could possibly be made air-conditioned in the future.
The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC), the nodal agency for the execution of railway-related projects, had been given the responsibility of procuring 157 trains for the city’s suburban network. “We intend to offer coaches with energy saving features, comfort, aesthetics and durability and at the same time manage the high-load of commuters effectively,” said PC Sehgal, managing director of MRVC .
After rolling out three coaches on the Central Railway’s suburban section, the MRVC had conducted a survey to find out what interested people. Based on their suggestions, the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) at Chennai and Siemens jointly designed a prototype rake.
Siemens, which provided expertise in the coach’s design, claimed that with certain alterations, air-conditioning facilities could be introduced. “If the Railways manages to close the doors and windows and increase insulation, it is possible to have air-
conditioning in the existing coaches,” said Vijay Parulekar of Siemens.
The rake, which arrived in Mumbai on Sunday, is painted grey with a bright violet streak running down its side. Unlike current locals all seats on the new rake are a standard blue. The rake will be opened to the public only by the end of October as a series of trials need to be undertaken.
“All those responsible for running the train were given adequate training at ICF and in Germany. The WB had offered Rs40 crore for this purpose,” said AK Jhingron of Western Railway.
){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}