New AC trains from next year but where will they be parked?

MUMBAI: Mumbai’s suburban railway network will receive 238 air-conditioned (AC) local trains, starting next year, but the Indian Railways has not addressed the question: where will these trains be parked?While land acquisition for two new car sheds, at Vangaon (Western Railway) and Bhivpuri (Central Railway), is almost complete, the expansion of six car sheds on both the suburban stretches is yet to begin

MUMBAI: Mumbai’s suburban railway network will receive 238 air-conditioned (AC) local trains, starting next year, but the Indian Railways has not addressed the question: where will these trains be parked?

Mumbai, India - October 03, 2022: Scores of commuters stranded at the Borivali station as they had a harrowing time on Monday morning, the first day of revised air-conditioned local services on the Western line. Commuters struggle to board the packed AC local train on Monday at 7.45am from Borivali station. It was only after the police intervened and asked a few commuters to alight did the train move. (HT Photo) (Hindustan Times)

While land acquisition for two new car sheds, at Vangaon (Western Railway) and Bhivpuri (Central Railway), is almost complete, the expansion of six car sheds on both the suburban stretches is yet to begin. These car sheds are at Kalwa, Kurla, Sanpada, Kandivali, Virar, and Mumbai Central. Together, they currently accommodate over 270 trains. Railway authorities say the expansion will cost ₹199 crore.

The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC), which is developing the new car sheds, said the Vangaon shed will require over 43 hectares of land, of which 3.64 hectares is private land. The compensation sum has been disbursed to landowners, while the rest is forest land.

For the Bhivpuri car shed, 45 hectares will be required, of which 42 hectares is private land and the rest is government land. “Work on the car shed here has gained momentum, with contracts awarded for land development, extension of bridges, boundary wall, drainage and road work awarded in August last year.

The immediate solution is to spend ₹199 crore on upgrading these six sheds. The proposed expansion will involve strengthening electrical infrastructure, creating facilities for AC equipment, improving inspection and repair arrangements, and modifying sheds to handle different types of suburban trains.

These facilities continue to maintain the present fleet of 12-car and 15-car non-AC trains while simultaneously creating space for a rapidly expanding AC fleet. Sources said there is a need to develop new car sheds.

The 238-rake programme has been split among three railway production units to avoid delays. The Integral Coach Factory in Chennai will manufacture 120 rakes, the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala will produce 71 and the Modern Coach Factory in Raebareli will manufacture 47. The first trains are expected in 2027 and the entire fleet is targeted for induction by 2030.

New focus on escalators

MUMBAI: With complaints about escalators at railway stations piling up, the Railway Board has promised better maintenance and monitoring. The board says that, going forward, manufacturers will have to maintain escalators for 15 years after the warranty period ends. “The move is aimed not only at reducing frequent breakdowns but also at ensuring that escalators are restored to service quickly,” railway sources said. The system will also be introduced to reduce the time taken to restart escalators after the emergency button is pressed, from 25 minutes to just 2 minutes.

Escalators have been installed at several Central and Western railway stations in Mumbai but when they break down, commuters are forced to use staircases. This leads to congestion and commuter frustration, posing a challenge especially to senior citizens.

The board’s new guidelines, issued on August 13, apply to newly procured escalators. Older ones, not maintained by their manufacturers, can undergo a “one-time repair” by the manufacturer, after which the company will be responsible for their maintenance for at least seven years.

Railway officials said the board has also permitted annual maintenance contracts to include provisions for the deployment of staff near escalators at sensitive and crowded locations.