Mumbai Local Train Tragedy: Railways Decides Safety Upgrades

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Top Railway Board officials held a meeting with the Integral Coach Factory team to address long-standing concerns over safety in Mumbai’s non-AC suburban trains

By S JHA

Mumbai, June 9, 2025 — A devastating accident on Mumbai’s Central Railway line claimed the lives of at least five commuters and left at least ten others injured. The mishap too place during peak hours on Monday morning. Following the tragedy, the Railway Board held a high level meeting to decide on overhauling trains for the Mumbai sub-urban railways.

The Railway Board decided to change the design of trains in the sub-urban with special focus on ventilation. The key cause of the tragedy has been pinned down on suffocation due to overcrowding, said a note of the minutes of the meeting of the Railway Board.

The incident occurred near Mumbra station, between Diva and Kopar. The passengers were riding on the footboards of two overcrowded local trains. Both the ill-fated trains collided while crossing each other.

Among the deceased is a 34-year-old Railway Police constable. Shocking visuals from the scene showed bodies scattered along the tracks. Rescue teams rushed to aid the injured.

Reports said that severe overcrowding led to passengers losing balance and falling onto the tracks. Some of them were hit by an oncoming train.

Thirteen people were initially reported injured, according to Central Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer Swapnil Dhanraj Nila. Four have been declared dead, while others remain under treatment at Shivaji Hospital and Thane General Hospital.

In response to the tragedy, the railway minister convened an emergency meeting with top Railway Board officials and the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) team to address long-standing concerns over safety in Mumbai’s non-AC suburban trains, especially the lack of automatic door mechanisms.

A key challenge has been implementing automatic door systems in non-AC coaches without worsening ventilation for passengers. After detailed technical discussions, the Railway Board has approved a redesign of non-AC local trains with the following features:

Louvred automatic doors to ensure airflow while maintaining passenger safety.
Roof-mounted ventilation units to pump fresh air into coaches and prevent suffocation.
Inter-coach vestibules allowing passengers to move freely between coaches, reducing crowding.

The first prototype of this new design will be completed by November 2025 and introduced into service by January 2026, pending successful trials and certifications.

This initiative comes in addition to the 238 AC local trains currently under production for Mumbai’s suburban network, as part of a broader modernization plan.

The incident spotlighted the urgent need for infrastructure upgrades in Mumbai’s heavily burdened suburban rail system. The Mumbai sub-urban serves over 75 lakh commuters daily.

Promises of safety improvements have often followed tragedies. But now public outrage and political pressure are intensifying calls for faster implementation and systemic reform.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced compensation for the victims’ families.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray criticized the Railway Ministry. He claimed that the tragedy was a result of chronic neglect while he demanded accountability.

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