05 February,2015 10:21 AM IST | | Shashank Rao
The two prototypes of the new Bombardier rakes are expected to ply in the next 10-12 days, after they received the Railway Board’s permission to bypass technical norms
After 15 months of their arrival, the two prototypes of the new Bombardier rakes will be finally included in the fleet of trains. Procured under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-IIA), the prototype's approval was delayed as the wrong sketch had been forwarded to the Commissioner of Railway Safety.
mid-day's report on January 17
It has now received the much awaited condonation letter from the Railway Board in Delhi, according to sources in the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC). The letter gives permission to bypass technical norms.
Railway authorities are now hopeful that the trains, the electric circuits of which have been created by Bombardier and the rakes have been manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, will hit the tracks in the next 10-12 days.
"There were some issues related to the Schedule of Dimension under the frame of the new rakes, for which the condonation was required," said Chetan Bakshi, Commissioner of Railway Safety (Mumbai). mid-day had reported about the delay in the inclusion of these rakes (âWrong sketch delayed new lot of local trains', January 17).
There were technical issues with the horizontal dimensions of the trains that did not match, and were protruding. The width of the under-frame the metal frame on which the coach is placed is wider than the existing trains, according to sources, and, therefore, this special permission was required for clearance.
With the condonation, the actual design of the remaining lot 70 rakes that will be included in Central and Western Railways has now been frozen. The MVRC has already conducted trials of the prototypes over the months. "We have completed an important part of the process.
Only the permission for its operation is pending," said Prabhat Ranjan, chief PRO, MRVC. The condonation letter will now be forwarded to Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety in Lucknow, who, after approval, will send it back to the Railway Board as the final go-ahead to get these trains running.
Meanwhile, railway authorities have also suggested changes in the interior of the rake, including handles, rods at the door, ventilation, seating, etc, which will be looked into.
