Indian Railways Announces Upgrades to Non-AC Trains After Mumbai Rail Tragedy

In the wake of a recent accident in Mumbai involving overcrowded local trains, resulting in four fatalities, Indian Railways has declared a plan to redesign its non-AC trains. The upgrades will focus on improving safety and passenger comfort. The key changes include the installation of automatically closing doors, designed to prevent passengers from falling onto the tracks, alongside improved ventilation. The Railway Board’s statement emphasized that the new design aims to prevent suffocation, often a concern with auto-closing doors, by incorporating louvres and roof-mounted ventilation systems. The project is scheduled to be finalized by November 2025 and the upgraded trains are expected to be put into service by January 2026 after completion of testing and certification. Furthermore, the new design will include vestibules, allowing passengers to move between coaches to help balance out the crowd.