The much-touted plan to convert half of a 12-car local into air-conditioned rakes seems to be just an idea. Railway authorities claim it's technically unfeasible to have both AC and non-AC bogies on a single local train. This news comes at a time, when coach manufacturers are ready to roll out more AC rakes for Mumbai. Union Railway minister Piyush Goyal had mooted the idea of having locals with six AC and six non-AC coaches in the Mumbai suburban system. "A regular local train halts for 15 seconds, while an AC local halts for 45-50 seconds at every station. The trains will lose punctuality if a single 12-car train is divided into both AC and non-AC," said a senior railway official. As per the schedule, the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai will send the second AC local having electrics of Medha Servo, to Mumbai in next four days. This will be the first AC local whose electrics and equipment will be underslung below the coach unlike the present system where it's next to the seats. A person can walk from one end of the train to the other as the rake will have vestibule type of design. It will also have better quality seats and luggage rakes and modern braking system. Shubhranshu, principle chief mechanical engineer, ICF Chennai said, "The AC rake with vestibule coaches will have 10 per cent more carrying capacity as the power equipment are fitted in the underslung. It also has six motors instead of four for better acceleration." Gradually, the seven AC of Medha will start coming from May. Senior Railway Board officials felt that it will be confusing for commuters. As of now, the new AC locals will come to Western Railway and not Central Railway. The present AC rake has faced issues related to the door-closure system and leaks from the AC system. It completed a year in December 2018. COOL RIDE

Stay updated with all the Mumbai Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.