The Namo Bharat Rapid Rail (NBRR), an airconditioned train variant introduced in the Ahmedabad-Bhuj sector, is not only bigger and faster than Mumbai’s AC local trains but is also a cheaper mode of transport. Though the 10-foot-wide NBRR rakes will be incompatible with Mumbai’s 12-foot-wide setup, passengers have demanded that the other positive aspects of this train be incorporated in Mumbai.

Inaugurated on Monday, the country’s first such 12-car train is an extension of the local trains with women’s compartments at either side and a regular seating arrangement. The NBRR, formerly known as Vande Metro, will operate on intercity routes connecting townships 300-350km apart and is supposed to be an upgraded version of the Mainline EMU trains that ply between cities.