Bombardier rakes by I-Day, AC local trains by March

Such rakes are an improvement over the Siemens ones and have bigger blowers and larger windows

Commuting is set to become a bit easier on the Western Railway (WR) with the new Bombardier rakes being introduced from Independence Day and the much-awaited air-conditioned locals by March next year.

A couple of Bombardier rakes will run between Churchgate and Virar from August 15. Eventually, 70 such rakes will be commissioned over a period of one year. These pink-coloured rakes, which were being tested for the last seven months, are an improvement over the Siemens rakes, which were introduced in 2007.

Bombardier rakes have bigger blowers and larger windows. The entire train is made of stainless steel. The Research and Design Organisation (RDSO) is expected to submit a report on the two Bombardier locals that have completed their trial runs.

Western Railway general manager Hemant Kumar said on Thursday that the electrical components of the air-conditioned local will reach the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) at Chennai by September and the local will be ready for trials by November. Initially, there will be only one such local, which will run up to Borivli with limited stops. Initially, it will be run in the non-peak hours.

The air-conditioned local that was announced by former railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal in the railway budget in the year 2013 has been delayed by several reasons. Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge while presenting the interim railway budget in February 2014 put forth a new deadline of June 2014. However, the GM clarified that the Integral Coach Factory, which is manufacturing the local will receive the electrical fittings by September and will take another two months for the composition of the 12-car train.