Currently, the Railways runs 9 and 12-car rakes on the local train network which accounts for over 88 per cent of the commuters who use public transport. However, during peak hours about 5,000 passengers travel in a 9-car rake meant for 1,700.
An increase in the number of cars per train on the main lines, taken up under the two phases of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), will increase the capacity of the local trains by 33 per cent. The proposed induction of 15-car trains will increase the capacity by another 33 per cent, which means a total increase of over 60 per cent.
The MRVC has commissioned consulting firm Rites to look into the feasibility of inducting 15-car EMUs on the slow and through (fast) corridors on the Churchgate-Virar stretch. Though no decision has been taken so far, a similar study could be considered for the Central Railway as well at a later stage, said MRVC officials. MRVC managing director P C Sehgal confirmed that the feasibility study was on.
The study will look into issues like the extension of the length of the platforms to accommodate the longer trains, and the corresponding upgradation in the maintenance yards and depots, and the required changes in track alignments, said senior Rites officials, who called the move “the need of the hour”.
The study, expected to be complete by September this year, would also take into consideration issues from the operational point of view like the impact on the traction power supply and the additional power requirement for the trains.
However, MRVC officials said that the availability of rakes could be a problem for putting the plan into action immediately, and even if the plan comes through at the macro level, it would be only after 2013-14, when the induction of additional rakes under the two stages of the MUTP would be complete.
While the ongoing MUTP I plans to convert all fast trains and 20 per cent of the slow trains on the main line into 12-car ones, the MUTP II aims at converting all rakes into 12-car ones.
“However, the induction of 15-car trains depends on the outcome of the report. We can also consider running such services on certain crowded stretches to help commuters,” said an MRVC official. “We have asked the consultants to take a holistic approach,” said the official, adding that the feasibility report would also consider the works which were sanctioned or were likely to be sanctioned in the near future like the laying of an additional line between Borivali and Mumbai Central.
The report will be submitted separately about the slow and through corridors with the cost estimates. The final report would be prepared after taking into consideration the comments of the Western Railway headquarters.