Technicians to be at hand on air-conditioned trains

Mumbai: Fearing that the planned suburban air-conditioned local train could begin a controversy like the monorail, the Western Railway (WR) is considering deploying a technician in each of its 12 coaches when the train launches on January 1, 2018. The railway suspects that there is a possibility that the train could come to a grinding halt a few times in the initial stages.

The decision to place the technical officers on-board the train comes from the trial runs of the train that have shown that the train seems to have a mind of its own and comes at a stop for not apparent reason, said the officials.

The air-conditioned train is being deliberated over and is currently undergoing a periodic overhaul at the Mahalaxmi yard due to multiple failures including brakes, speed, communications and easily breakable seats. There is a feeling of borderline dread among the officials that if this happens during the morning or the evening peak hours, the train will throw the entire timetable for a toss and earn a reputation of a failure in the eyes of the common man.

An official said, “We cannot guarantee anything about this train as it seems to be running amuck during the trials.” The train has been halting without hitting the breaks and during the trials when the motorman actually hits the break, it has continued to rattle away on the tracks on a few occasions, the official further added, “When any new train is brought in, there is always a adjusting period but with this train we feel that the adjustments will have to be made forever.”

The officials are further trying to minimise the contact of the AC train and the common man by relegating it to an afternoon schedule. An official said, “The train will be run to provide from about five to eight services in a day, until all the issues are worked out.”