Commuters slam “foolish” non-AC train plan, demanding double-decker dream over “knee-jerk” nightmare
Commuters have instead suggested double-decker trains for Mumbai’s suburban routes. Pics/Nimesh Dave
In a knee-jerk reaction to the ongoing crisis, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and his team have announced a new design for non-AC local trains featuring closed doors. However, city commuters and experts argue that this may not be a practical solution, pointing out that the new non-AC trains with doors may have a limited effect. Commuters have instead suggested double-decker trains for Mumbai's suburban routes. Security reasons prevent the installation of vestibules through ladies' and first-class compartments. Furthermore, the proposed open-roof ventilation vents could lead to rainwater entering the coaches.
The initial order to retrofit automatic doors on existing trains has now been revised; only new builds are mandated to have them. Air-conditioning cannot be retrofitted and can only be built into new rakes. “This is a knee-jerk reaction,” said rail commuter Hemang Desai. “How will a vestibule work with the various types of compartments like ladies, first class, and luggage? It's foolish to expect much from the ministry. Forced ventilation was already available, but was discontinued last year for no reason. Now they are offering the same thing as a solution?”
Commuters wait for the train at Borivli station yesterday
Bhaumik Gowande, an Urban Transport Planner at the University of Illinois at Chicago's College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, questioned the new design. “Roof-mounted ventilation units to pump in fresh air... and potentially water when it rains 100 mm in Mumbai? Are you telling me that we can’t provide retrofitted and overhauled AC trains to the people in the financial capital who contribute the most to India’s GDP?”
Another commuter, Vishal, suggested a different approach. “The vestibule will be an issue because of the positioning of the first-class and ladies' coaches and their partitions, as well as the motor cars. This wouldn't be a problem with a Vande Bharat design, where all coaches are the same class. It would be better to remove first class, make the AC train fare similar to the current first-class fare, and let first-class ticket holders travel in AC trains. The entire train should be a single class, with the ladies' coaches at the ends.”
“If they do away with the three or four luggage compartments and design the train like the AC trains, where only two half-bogies are used for traction motors, the carrying capacity will increase by 30 per cent!” said commuter Abhijit Patki. “Vestibules would also help.” Commuter Vishal Motwani also expressed scepticism about the ventilation system. “Roof-mounted ventilation units? I hope you are a Mumbaikar. Can you imagine the ventilation units sustaining the Mumbai rains? Won't a large amount of water seep inside, making it difficult to sit below?”
“So they came up with a design change in a few hours?” asked commuter Chaitanya Pathare. “The new AC locals are good enough; just build a new factory to manufacture them exclusively. Move the express train terminus out of Mumbai immediately, barring a few exceptions. Four lines exclusive to locals should be the norm.” “All of this is fine,” said WR commuter Dhaval Shah. “But can't the local trains be converted to double-deckers, like the earlier Flying Ranee, to augment capacity? It's an easy way to double the capacity. As it is, all the new bridges are being built with more height clearance.”
What is forced ventilation?
Introduced in 2007, this system equips non-AC local trains with ventilation units that have blowers installed throughout the train. These blowers pump 14,535 cubic metres of fresh air per hour into each coach to maintain stringent American standards of air quality. According to the globally accepted American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards for trains, the level of carbon dioxide should be less than 700 parts per million (ppm) above the CO2 level outside. The system has fallen into complete disuse due to heavy operations and insufficient time for the maintenance of rakes.
‘Roof-mounted ventilation units to pump in fresh air... and potentially water when it rains 100 mm in Mumbai? Are you telling me that we can’t provide retrofitted and overhauled AC trains to the people in the financial capital who contribute the most to India’s GDP?’
Bhaumik Gowande, an Urban Transport Planner
‘It’s foolish to expect much from the ministry. Forced ventilation was already available, but was discontinued last year for no reason. Now they are offering the same thing as a solution?’
Hemang Desai, rail commuter
‘Roof-mounted ventilation units? I hope you are a Mumbaikar. Can you imagine the ventilation units sustaining the Mumbai rains? Won’t a large amount of water seep inside, making it difficult to sit below?’
Vishal Motwani, commuter
‘If they do away with the three or four luggage compartments and design the train like the AC trains, where only two half-bogies are used for traction motors, the carrying capacity will increase by 30 per cent!’
Abhijit Patki, commuter
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