Title - Mumbai's commuters will have to wait longer for swanky new rakes

MUMBAI: Mumbaikars may have to wait longer for better and faster locals.International firm Bombardier Transportation, which had bagged the contract to deliver electrical fittings for 72 rakes to be procured by the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) under he Mumbai Urban Transport Project-II, had delayed the submission of drawings and designs for the fittings to the Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) of Indian Railways. As a result, the prototypes, which were expected to reach Mumbai by November-December, are now likely to arrive by April next year.Trial runs of the new 12-car electric multiple units (EMUs) were to be carried out for two months. Based on the results, changes, if necessary, were to be made to the new rakes and supply of the rakes was to begin from March 2013 in a phased manner.While Bombardier will instal electrical infrastructure, including traction motors, in the new rakes, the shell of the EMUs will be built at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai.An official told TOI, "Delivery of the new rakes is expected to be six months behind schedule. It can be delayed further if changes have to be incorporated in the new rakes."Said another official, "Both Western and Central railways need new rakes to augment their services. The delay means commuters will have to continue travelling in retro-fitted rakes that are more prone to breakdowns."