Mumbai Local Train Upgrade: Closed-Door Rake Prototype Ready For Trial Run

Mumbai's suburban railways, considered the city's lifeline, are set for a significant safety overhaul. The Indian Railways on Friday announced that a prototype of a closed-door local train has been developed and will soon undergo its first pilot run, ANI reported. The move follows growing concerns about passenger safety, particularly after the June 9 Mumbra tragedy, where eight commuters fell from a crowded local train and lost their lives.

Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw said the government is committed to installing automatic door-closing systems across Mumbai's suburban network to prevent such incidents.

Ashwini Vaishnaw: Automatic Doors To Be Standard In Non-AC Locals

Speaking during an inspection of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project-where a breakthrough was achieved in a 4.8 km tunnel on September 20-Vaishnaw stressed that safety remains the top priority. "All newly manufactured non-AC local trains will now be equipped with automatic doors, while retrofitting work on the existing fleet is already underway," he said, adding that all AC locals already come with this system.

He further noted that the initiative will significantly reduce risks faced by lakhs of daily passengers, particularly during peak hours when overcrowding and open doors often lead to accidents. "With closed-door locals, we aim to prevent tragedies linked to overcrowding," he stated. Officials also confirmed that tenders have already been issued for 238 new AC locals for Mumbai. Together with the closed-door design, these trains are expected to gradually change the suburban travel experience.

Over 7,000 Lives Lost On Local Trains In 3 Years

The statistics underscore the urgency of this safety measure. Maharashtra's Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik revealed that 7,565 passengers have died and another 7,293 were injured in train-related accidents in the last three years, with many cases involving falls from open doors. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had earlier backed the plan, asserting in June that all suburban coaches in Mumbai would eventually be replaced with safer, closed-door rakes.