Maintenance unit for next-gen Vande Bharat train to come up in Mumbai

Mumbai, the city which flagged off the first-ever rail service in India has now been selected as the place for the maintenance of the Indian Railway's next-gen Vande Bharat Train project. These futuristic trains, manufactured at the newly minted Marathwada Rail Coach Factory in Latur and Integral Coach Factory, Chennai will be maintained in the Maximum City. As per reports, the IR Board has identified two locations; Wadi Bunder on the Central Railway (CR) and Mumbai Central on the Western Railway (WR) for the same.

The India Railway Board has issued a tender for the manufacturing and maintenceace of about 200 energy-efficient Vande Bharat trains. The order has been directed to different general managers across the IR by means of a letter which elaborated the 35-year-long association. In other words, the IR has said that the technology partner or contractor is expected to maintain the trains for a 35-year term. Post this term, IR shall provide space and facilities for the next-gen trains at the train depots.

Purpotedly, the project will initially take off in Mumbai. The railway board members have already visited the proposed locations, tagging them suitable for the maintenance and development units for the new trains. However, the hunt for alternative locations is still on at the Western, South Central and South Western Railways. For now, the council has recognised Wadi bunder Coaching Complex, Dankuni Coaching Terminal and MCT as favourable spots.

The finalised depot sites will feature basic civic structure, including electrical fittings, cranes, track, OHE and signalling, among others. It will also have additional infrastructure such as an inspection bay with minimum of 16-20 car length, facility for repair and replace bogies, wheels and traction motors amongst others.

Meanwhile, the IR has also announced that the Vande Bharat Trains, where each track will have at least 2 washing lines for no more than 10 trains. In Mumbai, the washing lines has been slated at the CSMT, Mumbai Central and Bandra.