ICF to develop AC locals on lines of Train 18.

The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) will soon roll out an air-conditioned train for the Mumbai suburban network, which will be modelled along the lines of Train 18, the semi-high-speed engineless trainset that was recently inaugurated.

ICF general manager Sudhanshu Mani said the AC electric multiple unit (EMU) will be prototypes, and that the factory has sanction to develop AC EMUs indigenously. “The first of the AC rakes will be ready by the end of the month. We should be ready with another one by March. Since it is a prototype, it will need to undergo trials and testing,” Mr. Mani said.

Train 18 was produced by the ICF within 18 months of its conception and was unveiled in October. The train is undergoing trials and broke the 180 kmph speed limit on Sunday. It is expected to be pressed into service in January, and will most likely be used for one of the Shatabdi trains.

The AC EMUs modelled on Train 18 will have all equipment mounted underneath the floor, and wide, sealed gangways for passengers to move from one end to another. It will have 50% motoring for higher acceleration, which will help counter the extra time required at platforms for the door closing mechanism. Mr. Mani said the cost for new rakes was being worked out, but is expected to be around the same as the sole AC local train currently in service, which was around ₹50 crore.

The prototype will be in addition to the 47 AC EMUs being procured under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project 3, the 12 more that are expected from Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL), and the part-AC rakes which will have six air-conditioned coaches.

Senior railway officials said the 12 BHEL rakes have been extremely delayed, and will not reach the city anytime soon. “Unless BHEL supplies components to the ICF, the latter can’t commence production. BHEL has been assuring ICF of supplying the same since June,” one senior official said.

ICF, which was appointed as the procurement agency for the 47 AC EMUs, scrapped the tender for it last week. Sources said there was no specific timeline for fresh tenders to be floated as the matter is with the Railway Board.

THE HINDU