Small openings in the motor coach of new trains led to glitches during rains. They had to be sealed with masking tape
Commuters travelling in Mumbai's local trains would have experienced water leaking from the compartment roof every monsoon. With the introduction of new trains, manufactured in Chennai, this problem has finally come to an end. But, it may be too soon to cheer, as railway officials have identified a fresh flaw in the new fleet.
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The taped entrance to the Bombardier rakes
These trains, that have machines of Bombardier make (a Canadian transportation company) have a defect that might look negligible to the naked eye. There are small openings in the motor coach on the sides of the train through which water can easily seep in. A motor coach has electric transformers, circuits, electrics and other software controls. A 12-car train has four motor coaches.
Senior officials from Western Railway (WR) said they identified the leakage only after the first rains. “There are small gaps through which moisture gets in, and can put these electric equipment and circuits at risk,” said a WR official on condition of anonymity.
Earlier in June, six of these Bombardier trains suffered technical failures with the onset of rain. This is when the WR authorities jumped into action and began looking for flaws. They new trains were then taken to their carsheds for repair. They fixed it by soldering the gaps and pasting thick cello-tape at the doors of the motor coaches.
“These are teething troubles. Over a period, we have improved the ventilation, furnishings, seating and other parameters to smoothen the operation,” said Ravindra Bhakar, chief PRO, Western Railway. At present, out of the 84 trains that ply on the western line every day, 44 are of Bombardier make. The railways have to get 72 more for Western Railway before March 2017.
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