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India’s First Non-AC Local With Automatic Doors Heads to Mumbai

The pilot signals a shift to closed-door suburban trains to cut deadly falls from open doors.

Overview

  • The 12-car rake built by Integral Coach Factory in Chennai is in transit to Central Railway for handover at Wadi and movement to the Kurla carshed for inspection.
  • Before passengers can board, the train must clear RDSO’s Certificate of Clearance trials, which check safety and ride quality and typically take weeks to months.
  • The non-AC coaches use roof-mounted blowers, air intakes, and louvred doors and windows to push in fresh air and keep airflow when doors stay closed.
  • Officials say earlier worries about heat and stuffy coaches in peak hours guided the design, and they will monitor crowd flow and door operation during local trials.
  • The rollout follows a ministerial safety directive after last year’s Mumbra incident, with a second similar rake expected for Western Railway after feedback from this pilot.