Following a fatal accident on the Mumbai rail network, Indian Railways is undertaking a major redesign of its non-AC trains. The redesign, spurred by a recent incident near Mumbra railway station that resulted in four fatalities and several injuries due to overcrowded conditions, will focus on safety and passenger comfort. The new trains will be equipped with automatic door-closing mechanisms and enhanced ventilation. A key concern with automatic doors in the past has been inadequate ventilation, leading to potential suffocation. To overcome this, the new design incorporates louvres on the doors and roof-mounted ventilation units to ensure a constant supply of fresh air. Vestibules will also be added to the coaches to improve passenger flow and manage overcrowding. The Railway Board has confirmed that the redesigned trains are scheduled to be ready by November 2025, with their deployment planned for January 2026, contingent on the successful completion of testing and certification. This initiative is part of a broader effort, which includes the ongoing production of 238 AC trains for Mumbai’s suburban rail network.
Mumbai Train Tragedy Prompts Indian Railways to Upgrade Non-AC Trains
By The Chhattisgarh1 Min Read