MUMBAI (Metro Rail News): The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) has been directed by the Railway Board to procure 238 Vande Metro AC rakes for the suburban network as part of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP). These trains will come with strict maintenance equipment for 35 years.
The railway ministry has chosen for the first time to refer to the upcoming air-conditioned trains produced under MUTP as Vande Metro. On May 15, it was decided to purchase these trains under MUTP and 3A, and on May 19, the official letter to MRVC was sent.
In the letter, Tej Pratap Narayan, OSD Electrical Engineering for the Railway Board, stated that “MRVC shall consult Western Railway and Central Railway for requirements of rakes with 12/15 car formation. The technology partner will build up the two depots in Bhivpuri and Vangaon, which have previously received approval under MUT and 3A.
The technology partner will produce these trains in-house in accordance with Make in India standards.
Although new paths will be created that will allow us to run more trains after quadrupling and 5th and 6th lines are laid on, the majority of these services will be introduced by replacing existing non-AC services. Both CR and WR MRVC are expected to prepare “migration strategy” before it plans to introduce additional AC services once new rakes get added to the existing fleet under MUTP.
