The Central Railway (CR) is set to introduce the first non-AC local train in Mumbai with automatic closed doors. The move comes after the deadly Mumbra accident in June 2025, which led to five deaths and
eight others being injured after people standing near open doors fell from two overcrowded trains going in opposite directions during peak hours.
Many commuters continue to stand at open doors on the Mumbai non-AC local trains, a position that has long been considered a “routine risk” of life in the city, as per the Mumbai Mirror. In the wake of the Mumbra tragedy, the Railway Board announced that automatic doors would be fitted on all new non-AC suburban trains, a big departure from the open-door system commuters are used to.
Now, photos of the city’s first non-AC local train with automatic closed doors are circulating on the internet. The images show automatic doors, similar to those in metro trains, installed in the compartments.
Central Railway will soon introduce Mumbai’s first non-AC local train with automatic closed doors, following the deadly Mumbra accident.
The train is ready and will undergo trials before service, likely on the CSMT-Kalyan route during peak hours. pic.twitter.com/Re4rhk79Ga
— Amαr
Automatic Closed Doors In Mumbai Local: Where Will It Feature?
As per a report in the Mumbai Mirror, the first train will likely run on the CMST-Kalyan route during peak hours. A senior Central Railway official told the outlet, “The local train has been prepared and will be introduced on the Central line soon. It will undergo extensive trials and safety checks before entering service.”
The official explained that the groundwork for the project had started in September, three months after the Mumbra deaths. Trials were held at Kurla Carshed, with the then General Manager, Dharam Veer Meena, in attendance. By October, the Railways confirmed that a prototype was ready for pilot runs. The CMST to Kalyan route is among the options being considered for a pilot run.
“Planning is ongoing to prioritise peak hours, and the first route under consideration is CSMT to Kalyan. Existing rakes on this stretch will be replaced with closed-door non-AC trains,” the official added.
Concern Over Air Circulation In Non-AC Locals
The photos of the automatically closed doors sparked mixed reactions. Many people expressed concern that the closed-door system could lead to suffocation inside the compartments.
Absolutely dumb idea coming out of a Babus brain! Without strong active ventilation system this is a dangerous ride ! Do not start without doing a ride filled with Railway team – 500 in a closed Dabba!
— Nikhil C (@imbevda) January 8, 2026
However, railway officials told the Mumbai Mirror that air circulation won’t be an issue. An official explained that the non-AC coaches will be fully interconnected like AC locals to allow passenger movement and air circulation across the train.
As of now, no date has been set for the debut of the automatic closed doors. While commuter concerns about suffocation remain a matter of discussion, the commencement of the project will reveal whether these fears are unfounded.
Will there be a change in ticket price too?
So far, there has been no update in this matter.
