After the Mumbai Train accident, Railways authorities decide to install Automatic Closed-Door Facility in Non AC coaches by January 2026. New non-AC trains, ready with automated door closure structures. These trains set to introduce on the Mumbai Suburban Railway network by January 2026.
A meeting chaired by Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, along with senior Railway Board participants and experts from the Chennai-based Integral Coach Factory (ICF). It resulted in the decision to broaden a new design for non-AC coaches that guarantees protection without compromising ventilation.
Automatic Closed-Door Facility Introduce by Railways
Currently, Mumbai’s nearby train network operates 250 rakes, of which only 30 are air-conditioned. The remaining non-AC coaches haven’t any door final mechanisms. Retrofitting automatic doors on existing rakes raised problems of ventilation and suffocation. This is why earlier trials proven carbon dioxide levels rising 2.5 times whilst doors remained close.
To counter this, the new train design will comprise louvred doors, roof-set up ventilation system, and interconnecting vestibules. It allow passenger movement and manage overcrowding.
First Non AC Train with Automatic Doors will ready by Nov 2025
“The first train of this new structure will ready by November 2025. After the testing and certification via the Commissioner of Railways Safety, it will positioned in service for demands from the humans by January 2026,” a senior professional said.
The decision comes alongside the ongoing manufacturing of 238 AC trains for the city. While expenses for the new non-AC structures yet to finalised, modern non-AC trains costs Rs 20–25 crore with an operational life of 18 years.
Experts like M Jamshed, former Railway Board Member, have pressured the urgency of addressing number of 15 individuals per square metre for the duration of peak hours. “Whether the door last carried out with those numbers is arguable,” he said.
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