AC local arrives in Mumbai, commercial ops to take time

The first air-conditioned suburban local train for Mumbai, flagged off from Integral Coach Factory in Chennai on March 31, arrived here this morning, but it's not clear when it would be put in day-to-day operation.
"First the AC rake will have to undergo number of tests and trial-runs before we put it in the service for commuters. So it may take some time. But trial runs would start very soon," said Narendra Patil, chief PRO of Central Railway.
The train is currently housed at Kurla car shed.
Fare structure, routes of operation, and time-table would also be worked out in due course, Patil said.

Describing its features, senior divisional electrical engineer Ved Prakash said, "Equipped with GPS and micro-processor-based software system, this 12-car local has a seating capacity of 1208 and standing capacity of 4936 passengers. 108 to 112 passengers can travel in a coach.
"There would be two sets of 15-tonne AC units in every coach and doors would close and open automatically, with emergency opening features. Additionally, passengers, if needed, can use talk-back facility to communicate with the motormen or the guards," Prakash said.

Built at the cost of Rs 54 crore, the train doesn't have first class and general class division; the entire rake would be vestibule-connected (in two parts of six coaches each) and can run at the top speed of 110 kmph.

Its life expectancy is 35 years.
General Manager, Central Railway, S K Sood, told PTI the trial run would be conducted on trans-harbour line, but didnot give a timeline for it, or that for commencement of its commercial operations.
"It can be decided only after successful completion of trial run," he said.
AC local for Mumbai had been announced first in 2012-13 Rail Budget, but the project was delayed for several reasons.