Waterproofed & Air-Conditioned, Can These Sturdy New Trains Handle Mumbai's Infamous Monsoon?

Mumbai’s suburban rail network is set to undergo a major transformation with the introduction of Vande Metro (also known as Namo Bharat Rapid Rail) AC trainsets.
Managed by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC), these trains are designed to replace older local trains and significantly enhance passenger comfort and safety.

How will the trains be?

Trains will be available in 12, 15, and 18-coach variants to better handle Mumbai’s extreme peak-hour crowds. A single 12-coach unit can accommodate over 3,200 passengers (1,150 seated and 2,058 standing). It will be fully air-conditioned. It will have continuous vestibules (fully sealed gangways) for smoother movement between coaches. Sensor-based automatic sliding doors will ensure enhanced safety. It will include USB

charging points, CCTV surveillance, infotainment screens, and real-time route maps.

Can they handle Mumbai rains?

Mumbai’s monsoon (June–September) typically brings over 2,500 mm of rain, with extreme days seeing 300 mm+ in 24 hours. This often leads to waterlogging on tracks, especially on the Central Line.
The new Vande Metro trains are designed with several “monsoon-proof” features such as:
Flood-Resilient Underframe: All critical electrical and traction equipment is fitted with specialized waterproofing to operate even during moderate waterlogging.
Corrosion Protection: Coaches are treated with anti-saline and anti-corrosive coatings to withstand Mumbai’s humid, salty coastal air.
Advanced HVAC: The air-conditioning systems are built to handle 90%+ relative humidity and include high-efficiency filtration to maintain air quality during the heavy rains.
Sealed Design: Fully sealed gangways and automatic sliding doors prevent rainwater from entering the passenger saloon, a major upgrade over existing local trains.

Estimated Ticket Fares

While official fares for the Vande Metro suburban service have not been finalized, they are expected to follow the existing AC local and Mumbai Metro structures rather than the high-speed Vande Bharat Express rates.
Vande Metro suburban: Rs 10-90 (Similar to Mumbai Metro 3 and 7)
Intercity: Rs 300-500 (Higher than local fares, but lower than Vande Bharat Express)

What are the routes?

The trains will be deployed across both the Central Railway and Western Railway networks.
Intercity Connectivity: A dedicated Vande Metro service is also planned for the Mumbai-Pune route, which aims to reduce travel time between the two cities with a top speed of 130 km/h.

Project status

The bid opening for the procurement of 238 Vande Metro trainsets (totalling 2,856 cars) has been postponed to April 16, 2026.
Once the contract is awarded (expected in late 2026), the first prototype is anticipated within two years, meaning the first trains may hit Mumbai tracks around 2028.
The project includes a 35-year comprehensive maintenance agreement and the construction of two new maintenance depots at Vangaon (Western Railway) and Bhivpuri (Central Railway).

With News18 Marathi inputs