Mumbai Train Tragedy Triggers Railways Push for Auto-Closing Doors in Non-AC Coaches by January
In the wake of the tragic Mumbai suburban train incident that left four passengers dead and nine injured on Monday morning, the Indian Railways has announced a fast-tracked plan to introduce automatic door-closing systems in non-air-conditioned (non-AC) local trains by early next year.
The incident occurred when 13 passengers fell off overcrowded trains after the backpacks of commuters hanging from the footboards brushed against each other as two local trains crossed in opposite directions. Among the deceased was a Government Railway Police (GRP) constable.
Responding swiftly, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw convened an emergency meeting with top officials from the Railway Board and the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai to explore immediate and long-term safety measures. The meeting focused on addressing the core challenge of ventilation in non-AC coaches equipped with automatic door mechanisms—a long-standing hurdle that has prevented their deployment.
Following extensive deliberations, railway officials confirmed that a redesigned non-AC suburban rake featuring enhanced ventilation will be rolled out by November for testing, with full deployment expected by January 2026.
“A three-pronged design solution has been finalised to resolve the suffocation issues that earlier derailed attempts to implement auto-closing doors in Mumbai’s non-AC trains,” a senior Central Railway official told reporters.
The upgraded coaches will include:
- Louvered doors to facilitate natural airflow even when closed;
- Roof-mounted ventilation units to circulate fresh air within the coach; and
- Vestibule connections between coaches to allow free passenger movement and improve crowd distribution.
These features aim to strike a balance between safety and ventilation, two often competing priorities in Mumbai’s high-density suburban train system.
This upcoming rake will be in addition to the 238 air-conditioned local trains currently being manufactured under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), the official added.
The move marks a significant shift in Mumbai’s local train infrastructure, where overcrowding remains a chronic issue. Previous attempts to install an automatic door, such as a Western Railway trial over a decade a, o—were abandoned after widespread complaints of suffocation from passengers.
Currently, Central Railway operates 157 local trains, including seven air-conditioned services, while Western Railway manages 95, including eight AC locals. Combined, the two divisions run over 3,200 services daily, catering to more than 7.5 million commuters, making Mumbai’s suburban railway one of the busiest public transport systems in the world.
Railway officials acknowledged that the automatic door system has become a necessity amid rising safety concerns, but emphasized that its implementation must be commuter-friendly.
“The safety of passengers is paramount, but we cannot overlook the comfort and air circulation required in non-AC environments,” a Railway Board source said.
The tragic episode has once again highlighted the pressing need for infrastructure modernization in Mumbai’s suburban network, and the Railways’ latest initiative aims to take a meaningful step in that direction.
