Central Railway plans to introduce a second AC local train on the Harbour Line between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Panvel. The new rake is undergoing trials and is expected to begin operations by April-end
Representational image. File pic
With the arrival of another air-conditioned EMU rake in Mumbai, Central Railway (CR) is planning to introduce a second AC local train on the Harbour Line, strengthening connectivity along the busy Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)–Panvel corridor.
The Harbour Line, considered a lifeline for the rapidly expanding workforce in Navi Mumbai, has seen a steady rise in passenger demand in recent years. The addition of a second AC local is expected to offer more comfortable commuting options for thousands of daily passengers.
The newly arrived rake reached CR’s Mumbai division earlier this week and is currently undergoing trials. Railway officials have also indicated that full-fledged commercial operations are likely to begin by the end of April, subject to successful testing.
Mumbai local gets automatic doors first for non-AC suburban trains
Mumbai is set to receive India’s first non-AC suburban local train with automatic door closure, marking a significant shift in the design of the city’s lifeline trains. The new rake, developed after the Mumbra incident, is aimed at improving passenger safety by preventing falls from open doors.
The 12-car train, manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, is currently on its way to Mumbai and is expected to arrive shortly. Railway officials say the move is part of a broader policy shift to introduce closed-door systems across all future suburban trains, both AC and non-AC.
A first for Mumbai and Indian Railways
This is the first time a non-AC local train with automatic doors has been developed for Mumbai’s suburban network and for Indian Railways.
The rake, numbered 268201–268212, has been designed following consultations between the Railway Board and the Integral Coach Factory, with the Railway Minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, intervening.
“From the safety of commuters in Mumbai, it is very important that local trains operating in the city have closed doors. It has now been decided that all trains manufactured for Mumbai will have closed doors,” an official said.
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