Could this train solve Mumbai’s AC local trains woes?

The Namo Bharat Rapid Rail (NBRR), an airconditioned train variant introduced in the Ahmedabad-Bhuj sector, is not only bigger and faster than Mumbai's AC local trains but is also a cheaper mode of transport. Though the 10-foot-wide NBRR rakes will be incompatible with Mumbai's 12-foot-wide setup, passengers have demanded that the other positive aspects of this train be incorporated in Mumbai.

Inaugurated on Monday, the country's first such 12-car train is an extension of the local trains with women's compartments at either side and a regular seating arrangement. The NBRR, formerly known as Vande Metro, will operate on intercity routes connecting townships 300-350km apart and is supposed to be an upgraded version of the Mainline EMU trains that ply between cities.

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The first service will be operated on the Bhuj-Ahmedabad route six days a week. A similar train, slotted for Central Railway, is on its way to Mumbai and is expected to run on existing MEMU routes of Vasai-Diva, Panvel-Dahanu/Vasai or new inter-city routes of Mumbai-Nashik or Mumbai-Pune, which are to be finalised.

The train is similar to the popular AC EMU train introduced in Mumbai on Christmas Day in 2017. The NBRR is superior to Mumbai's AC locals with regard to riding acceleration, phone charging facilities, LED lighting and CCTV surveillance. It possesses an automatic smoke/fire detection alarm system and aerosol-based fire extinguishing system and toilets that operate on vacuum evacuation. It affords unreserved passengers unprecedented comforts. Unlike AC local trains, the NBRR has cushioned seats.

Commuter Speak

"AC local commuters are paying more than double the fare of an NBRR train to cover the same distance and, that too, in inferior rakes," said commuter Devraj Malekar from Charni Road. Shailesh Goyal, former member, National Railway Users Consultative Committee, said, "Mumbai's AC trains have water leakage issues, the seats are of steel and cooling is not uniform throughout. Despite this, we are paying such high fares."

Rajiv Singhal of the WR Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee said, "This is not fair. Railways is making a fool of AC local commuters by charging double the fare paid by first class pass holders. NBRR ticket and season ticket prices are very reasonable." Ketanbhai Shah, a member of the CR Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee, said, "The NBRR coaches are much better than that of our AC locals. It would be great if the latter's fare could be reduced."

Slab chart

As per a fare slab chart released by Railways, an NBRR train has a minimum fare of Rs 30, inclusive of GST. Weekly, fortnightly and monthly season tickets shall be charged equivalent to seven, 15 and 20 single journeys respectively. The NBRR base slab comes up to Rs 1.2/km whereas for Mumbai AC locals, it is Rs 3.5/km, nearly three times higher.

The Namo Bharat Rapid Rail, which connects Bhuj and Ahmedabad in Gujarat

The AC EMU train fare was finalised when the service was introduced on Western Railway on December 25, 2017, and subsequently reduced by 50 per cent to increase the ridership of AC local trains, but it remains on the higher side. "The new train variant is better than an AC local train in all respects, so why is the latter's fare higher than the former's? This is unfair. Railways should equalise fares of all trains in similar categories," another
commuter said.

What officials say

Railway officials said that NBRR trains, unlike AC locals, are meant to be run in non-metro areas where people may have low-paying capacity and fare structure is designed accordingly. "Mumbai rail ticket fares include additional charges like MUTP surcharge and additional levies, leading to increased fare per km," official said.

Another official said that it would be unfair to compare the NBRR fare with that of AC EMU local trains. "One should compare it with the fare of existing MEMU trains instead. And if one does this, the fare is three times higher," he added.