2 weeks ago
Mumbai to Get 238 New AC Local Trains by 2027
Mumbai is a huge city in India where millions of people ride local trains every day to get to school, work, and other places.
These trains often get very crowded, so the city needs more of them.
The government has decided to build 238 new air-conditioned local trains for Mumbai.
Each train will have 12 coaches, so it can carry lots of passengers at once.
The trains will be built at three railway factories, all at the same time, so they can be ready faster.
The first new train is expected to be ready by 2027, and all of them by 2030.
The old plan was to buy the trains from other companies, but that was taking too long.
The new trains will have automatic doors that close by themselves, which helps keep passengers safe on crowded trains.
The government is also spending money to make the railway network bigger, so more trains can run when the new ones arrive.
The Ministry of Railways will manufacture 238 new AC local trains for Mumbai's suburban network simultaneously at three of its production units.
Each 12-coach AC rake — 2,856 coaches in total — will feature an automatic door-closing system.
The first AC rake is expected by 2027, with the complete fleet of 238 rakes targeted by 2030.
The earlier international procurement route, which began with bids invited in June 2023, faced delays and would have delivered the first train only by 2030.
Around Rs 22,000 crore is being invested in network capacity, including new corridors and platform extensions for 15-coach trains.
- Who
- The Ministry of Railways, which will manufacture the trains at three of its production units; Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC), led by Chairman and Managing Director Vilas S Wadekar, is overseeing the plan, with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw backing the revised timeline.
- What
- Manufacturing of 238 new air-conditioned local trains (12 coaches each) with automatic door-closing systems for Mumbai's suburban railway network, alongside a major network capacity expansion.
- Where
- Mumbai, India — trains will be built at the Integral Coach Factory (Chennai), Modern Coach Factory (Raebareli) and Rail Coach Factory.
- When
- The first AC rake is expected by 2027 and the full fleet by 2030; the project was approved under MUTP-III and IIIA, and the earlier procurement route was launched in June 2023.
- Why
- To speed up delivery after delays in the earlier procurement plan, reduce crowding, and improve passenger comfort and safety as the suburban network expands.
Key facts
- Number of trains
- 238 AC local rakes (12 coaches each; 2,856 coaches total)
- Estimated rolling stock cost
- Rs 19,293 crore
- Network upgrade investment
- Around Rs 22,000 crore
- Project
- Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP)-III and IIIA
- Manufacturing units
- Integral Coach Factory (Chennai), Modern Coach Factory (Raebareli), Rail Coach Factory
- Delivery timeline
- First rake by 2027; full fleet by 2030
- Earlier procurement timeline
- First rake by 2030; full fleet by 2034 (international bids invited June 2023)
- Key features
- Air conditioning and automatic door-closing system
Quotes
Vilas S. Wadekar
Chairman and Managing Director of MRVC
“Crowding levels will be reduced, passenger comfort will be enhanced, and safety will be improved because of closed doors.”
financialexpress.com
Ashwini Vaishnaw
Railway Minister of India
“The entire procurement was going to be completed in 2030 and that’s was not acceptable to us.”
financialexpress.com










