Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation has issued an international tender for procurement of 2,856 coaches of Vande Metro trains for Mumbai's suburban network

According to authorities, the MRVC (Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation) has published a worldwide tender for the purchase of 2,856 Vande Metro carriages for Mumbai's suburban network. A senior MRVC official said on June 21 that bids for the purchase of 2,856 coaches—equivalent to 238 trains with a 12-coach composition—have been solicited under MUTP projects Phase-3 and 3A, which are valued at $10,947 crore and 33,690 crore, respectively. The official cited the tender document when stating that in addition to purchasing and maintaining Vande Metro rakes for their entire lifespan, the winning bidder would also be required to build new repair depots for Vande Metro and enhance the current maintenance facilities.

The 238 Vande Metro rakes will be purchased by the MRVC in May 2023, one month after the Railway Board, the governing body of Indian Railways, approved the purchase. The selected bidders would be required to install new car sheds at Vangaon (Palghar district) and Bhivpuri (Raigad district) as well as supply the air-conditioned Vande Metro rakes within seven years, according to the tender document posted on MRVC's website, the official added.

The official added that the bidder will also be required to handle thorough annual maintenance of the trains and the maintenance depot for 35 years. A two-year period has been considered for manufacturing the prototype of Vande Metro trains, and a further five-year period for the supply of average 50 trains every year. The railway and state government will carry out a number of infrastructure projects under the MUTP-3 and 3A projects to increase the capacity of Mumbai's suburban network.

Another MRVC official spoke on the characteristics of Vande Metro, stating that these trains would have an automated door-closing mechanism, fully-vestibuled coaches, and a single class of coaches—there will be no first or second class arrangements like in the current non-AC (air conditioner) locals. There were some reservations over whether or not Vande Metro would include vendor compartments, however, MRVC has confirmed that there would be two distinct AC vendor compartments at either end of the trains.

According to him, the trains would have luggage compartments or separate AC vendors at either end, separated from the AC air circulation vents, to ensure that passengers riding in adjacent coaches are not inconvenienced by the scent of goods like fish. The passenger seating configuration in these trains will be the same as in the current EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) trains, however, instead of the current stainless steel chairs on AC trains, these trains will be equipped with modular ergonomic cushioned seats. According to the current plan, the coaches will be set aside for women, people with disabilities, and older persons, the official added, adding that the trains would also feature energy-efficient LED lighting and emergency lights.

The trains will include USB outlets for mobile/laptop charging in the passenger saloon area, CCTV, talkback systems, entertainment with big digital display panels, dynamic route map indication for en route stops, and an automatic fire detection and alarm system.The Vande Metro trains, according to authorities, will feature a body made of an aluminum alloy or stainless steel with a design life of 35 years, a top operational speed of 130 kmph, and cutting-edge traction technology for greater energy efficiency.