Mumbai local train accident: Automatic doors, design changes, roof ventilation to be introduced this year

Following the death of four passengers, who were hanging from the doors of an overcrowded, moving local train on Monday, the railways are planning to introduce some changes to suburban trains. The Railway Board and the Railway Minister met with the Integral Coach factory team to find safety solutions. A handful of updates, including automatic doors, roof ventilation, and design changes, will be introduced soon on the trains. New non-AC trains with updated designs, doors with louvres, roof-mounted ventilation units that pump fresh air and vestibules to move from one coach to another are also expected to be introduced. 

Per a note issued by the Railway Ministry, the first train with the new design should be ready by November this year. However, the new trains will only be available by January next year after certifications and tests. Another 238 AC trains have already been manufactured for Mumbai suburban services, which is in addition to this match. The National Crime Records Bureau shows that in 2022 alone, around 17,053 people fell off trains or collided with trains on tracks, and most of the cases, around 27.4%, were reported in Maharashtra. 

Reports claim that Monday's accident was the result of a collision between passengers travelling on the gates of trains moving in opposite directions. It happened near the Mumbra station, and around eight people fell off the train. 'Mumbai local train accident' has more 50K searches in the past 18 hours.