Mumbai gets closer to the coolest local train rides

So the 18car local dream may well turn into reality with the Mumbai AC local tender may finally be floated this month after the Maharashtra government on Wednesday cleared the proposal of 238 AC local trainsMidDay was the first to highlight an 18car local plan in its July 2025 editionThe proposal was finally cleared by the Maharashtra government at its cabinet meeing on Wednesday giving a green flag for the ministry of railways to go ahead with the tendersAC local train at CSMT PicAshish RajeWelcoming the decision Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation MRVC chairman and managing director Vilas S Wadekar said With gratitude we welcome the Govt of Maharashtrarsquos Cabinet approval for MUTP Phase 3B and the PunendashLonavala 3rd amp 4th line These projects will ease congestion on Maharashtrarsquos busiest rail corridors and enhance suburban capacity by segregating main line corridor from suburban corridor With major works like PanvelndashVasai Suburban corridor BadlapurndashKarjat 3rd amp 4th line and AsangaonndashKasara 4th line under MUTP3B the entire segregation will get sanctioned for Mumbai Suburban MRVC is committed to creating a safer sustainable and more reliable suburban railway system for commutersThe new AC local trains will be sleek and metro look alikes have cushioned seats mobile charging ports and video screens for entertainment The cost of the global tender is Rs 21000 crore The trains will have 50 pc powering as compared to 33pc powering in existing trains which means they will have faster acceleration and decelerationThe dwell time due to opening and closing of doors at each station increases by 20 seconds The faster acceleration and deceleration will take care of that and cover the distance sources saidSources said the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation MRVC will be placing tenders for 2856 coaches which will be run in a configuration of 12 15 and 18 car trainsThe first delivery of the prototype train will be about two and a half years from the date the tenders are awarded and subsequently series production will begin The process takes about seven years overall Any global companies can bid but they should abide by the conditions of Make in India and other clauses sources saidThe new train orders will be customised as per requirements of that time If a corridor is ready for 15car those trains will be made to order if of a 12car then they will be ordered sources addedAsked about the 18car local plan the MRVC source said We do not know the future requirements and prevailing conditions of that time We are keeping technical specifications of 18car trains ready just in case required It is not that we are getting 18car trains To be crystal clear we are placing tenders for 2856 coaches which would be assembled and configured as per requirements of that periodThe MRVC has been working on design and specifications of the new local train for the past six months The plan includes having a completely walkthrough vestibuled train with luggage compartments at the either endsSources said that the new AC local trains will have a much more powerful ventilation and air conditioning HVAC system with two 25ton units in each coach instead of the present two 15ton units in a single coach Seating inside the proposed AC trains is likely to have cushioned seats instead of the present steel ones Plus infotainment sets will also come preinstalled in these trainsThe trains will have a speed potential of 130 kmph as compared to 100110 kmph at presentTwo EMU carsheds for the 238 AC local will be developed at Bhivpuri Central Railway and Vangaon Western Railway which will be solely operated by the private manufacturerTrain features The trains will have 50 pc powering as compared to 33pc powering in existing trains which means they will have faster acceleration and deaccleration The plan includes having a completely walkthrough vestibuled train with luggage compartments at the either ends The new AC local trains will have a much more powerful ventilation and air conditioning HVAC system with two 25ton units in each coach instead of the present two 15ton units in a single coach Seating inside the proposed AC trains is likely to have cushioned seats instead of the present steel ones Plus mobile charging points and infotainment sets will also come preinstalled in these trains