Western Railway plans safety trials for 18-coach suburban trains

The Western Railway will conduct key safety trials of 18-coach suburban local trains later this month, a move that could pave the way for higher-capacity services on Mumbai’s heavily burdened suburban network, PTI quoted officials as saying.

Currently, Mumbai’s suburban rail system largely operates 12-coach local trains, with a limited number of 15-coach services running on both the Central and Western Railway networks. The suburban network caters to over 75 lakh passengers daily across more than 3,000 services, making capacity expansion a critical priority.

The trials, involving two 18-coach local train rakes, are scheduled on the Virar–Dahanu Road section in Palghar district, tentatively on January 14 and 15, officials said.


According to railway officials, the trials will include emergency braking distance (EBD) and coupler force (CF) tests—both mandatory safety assessments required before new rolling stock can be commissioned. The EBD test evaluates how quickly a train can come to a halt during an emergency, while the CF test measures the force exerted on couplers during braking.

One 18-coach rake fitted with Bombardier electrical equipment and another equipped with Medha electrical systems will undergo the trials. Both trains are fitted with three-phase propulsion systems, officials said.

The Bombardier-equipped rake will be tested at a maximum speed of 110 kmph, while the Medha-equipped rake will undergo trials at speeds of up to 105 kmph.

The Western Railway said the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) has directed it to ensure the rakes are fully prepared and properly loaded for the trials, underscoring the importance of meeting all safety and technical requirements before any potential rollout of 18-coach suburban services.

(With inputs from PTI)