Title - Swanky new trains to arrive only in Oct

MUMBAI: The delivery of 72 alternate current (AC) rakes manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, is expected to miss the revised deadline again. As per the reworked deadline, the prototype rakes were to arrive by August, but Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) officials now expect them to arrive only in October.

The delay will hit plans to modernize the fleet and traction system, besides hampering service augmentation.

A senior MRVC official said, "Work on electrical fittings is on. We expected work on prototypes to be completed in July so that the rakes could reach in August. Thereafter, trials will have been carried out to ensure that subsequent rakes run smoothly on the suburban system."

An agreement between MRVC and Bombardier Transportation was inked in November 2011. TOI had reported in December 2012 that the delivery of rakes had been delayed by six months. As per the original schedule, the rakes were expected by March 2013.

The shells are being built at the ICF and electrical infrastructure, including traction motors, are being supplied and installed by Bombardier Transportation at a cost of Rs 14.8 crore per EMU. The rakes are being procured under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (II).

The World Bank, which extended a loan of $385 million to MRVC for the project, is unhappy with the delay. An MRVC official said, "A World Bank team has sought a meeting next week to review progress of the project."

Following a review in November 2012, the bank in a report on March 31, 2013, revised the rating performance of MRVC from 'moderately satisfactory' to 'moderately unsatisfactory'.

MRVC may impose a penalty for the delay if Bombardier's explanation is unsatisfactory; as per the agreement, the total penalty should not exceed 5% of the project cost.

A Central Railway official said, "Unless delivery of the rakes starts, Western Railway will not be able to give us AC/DC dual traction compatible rakes. Till then, CR will not be able to switch from 1,500 V DC traction to 25 KV AC current traction."

FASTER RAKES ON SLOW TRACK

The new rakes

* The 12-car electric multiple units (EMUs) can run at a maximum speed of 120kmph, as against 100kmph of present Siemens rakes

* Less susceptible to corrosion as they will be made with stainless steel

* Shell exterior of rakes are white and a darker shade of purple, including the door, to camouflage paan stains as they are difficult to erase or dilute even after an intensive wash at the maintenance yard

* Will look like Metro system coaches

* Improved ventilation as air blowers have been installed atop rakes. In Siemens rakes, blowers were on sides and had to kept closed during rains

Bombardier deal

* Agreement between MRVC and Bombardier Transportation for electrical fittings was signed in November 2011

* Shells of rakes are being manufactured at Integral Coach Factory, Perambur

Original deadline

* Supply and installation of equipment for electrical fittings was to be done by November 2012

* First prototypes were to arrive by March 2013

* Deadline was later revised to August 2013

Reason for delay

* Bombardier Transportation has been unable to deliver approved electrical fittings on schedule