Maharashtra non-AC locals with automatic doors? Central Railway to soon commence trials

Central Railway is set to introduce two non-AC local trains fitted with automatic door-closing systems later this month, marking a major safety-focused upgrade for suburban services.

The new rakes are expected to arrive by the end of March and will first undergo trials. They are likely to be operated during non-peak hours before authorities take a call on a wider rollout across the network.

The move comes in the wake of the June 9 Mumbra accident, in which five commuters died and nine fell from a moving train. The incident prompted a detailed safety review by railway authorities.

Early findings from the review identified open doors as a major contributing factor to the Mumbra incident, leading to recommendations for closed-door systems similar to those used in Metro trains.

To address ventilation concerns, the trains will feature louvered doors for natural airflow, roof-mounted ventilators for improved circulation, and vestibule connections to allow passenger movement across coaches.

While the doors will be controlled by the motorman, each compartment will have two emergency buttons — including one placed above the door — allowing commuters to alert the motorman in case of emergencies.

Each station halt may require additional seconds for doors to fully open and close, increasing stoppage time. Initial unfamiliarity among commuters, especially during peak hours, could slow boarding and alighting. Doors may also reopen if obstructed by passengers or baggage, adding to delays. Currently, automatic doors are limited to AC locals (133 services — 94 on Western Railway and 39 on Central Railway).(Representative Images)