Central Railway

AC local

Harbour line

suburban line

Western Railway

Mumbai got its first AC local in December 2017

The(CR) commuters have been tearing their hair out waiting for an AC local. The wait appeared to have come to an end on August 17 when Mumbai received its third(see box) amid reports that it could be pressed into service on thebetween Goregaon and CSMT. Now, the train has proved to be ‘too tall’ for CR. Literally.It has come to light that the train’s height is over the permissible limit of 4.270 mt, and it will not be able to run on both the Harbour Line and the CR’s Mainbecause the coaches cannot pass through the low British-era overbridges along the route.The CR officials said that there were at least three spots – two between Wadala and Sandhurst Road, and another near Chembur -- where the decades-old road overbridges have reduced the space between the tracks and the overhead equipment. A train which is 4.270 mt in height will ensure electrical clearing of 2.50 mt between its roof and the overhead equipment while stationary and 2.70 mt when in motion.“The third AC rake is at least 15 mm above the permissible height of 4.270 mt and will be considered unsafe,” a CR official said. He said the option of lowering the height of the tracks was also not available as majority of the tracks were in lowlying areas that get flooded during the rains.Both AC locals on Western line are also above the 4.270-mt CR limit, with the first train’s height being 4.275 mt while the second local is 4.285 mt tall. The CR’s additional general manager, R Badri Narayan, said that the(WR), which was allotted the third AC local, was informed of the problem. “If the required changes are made, we can consider it for operations,” he said.The WR sources said that the rake didn’t have adjustable equipment to lower its height. “Such changes can only be made by the manufacturer as the rake’s outer shell will have to be modified,” a WR official said.The CR officials said a team could be sent to Chennai where the Integral Coach Factory which manufactures these rakes is based. “We must ensure the AC trains meant for CR’s suburban services are created as per the specifications provided by us,” a CR official said.