First German-designed local train hits Mumbai tracks

Mumbai, Nov 12 (UNI) The much-talked about new local train, designed in Germany, finally hit the tracks today after Railway Board chairman K C Jena flagged off the first train from Churchgate station for Virar, a distant western suburb.

''The train was flagged off from platform number one by the Chairman at 1400 hrs, and it stopped at all stations before arriving at Virar,'' a WR official said.

The train was earlier supposed to be on rails as a Diwali gift, but due to some technical reasons the WR authorities could not deliver the promise on the festival day.

The new train has a roof-mounted ventilation package units, the windows are larger and fitted with polycarbonate lookout glass.

Modular switches for the fans, lighting along the central aisle and emergency fluorescent lights are some other features that the swanky new train have.

Over a period of time, the city will get 156 more such trains, which is part of the World Bank funded Rs 4,500-crore Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), which will be introduced on suburban stations across the city.

UNI