Trials of the first domestically manufactured monorail train in India have commenced in Mumbai

The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) announced the arrival of the first carriage at the Vadala depot, this is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Manufactured by Medha SMH Rail, this train will undergo dynamic testing in Mumbai before being put into operation on the city’s monorail line.

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While ten trains currently operate on the monorail line, built by Scomi Rail from Malaysia, the new trains assembled by Medha Servo Group in Hyderabad promise to be several tons lighter, reducing infrastructure load and enhancing transportation safety.

Increasing passenger capacity by 10% to 156 individuals per carriage will improve transport system efficiency.

Additionally, the use of fire-resistant materials in the new trains will enable them to withstand fire for an hour, compared to Scomi Rail trains, which can withstand only 30 minutes, enhancing passenger safety and reducing fire risk in emergencies.

In April 2022, MMRDA signed a contract with the Medha SMH Rail consortium for the supply of 10 monorail trains worth 7 billion rupees ($85 million), aligning with the “Make in India” initiative requiring at least 50% localization of production.

The delivery of another 10 new trains will reduce intervals between trips from 20-25 minutes to 5 minutes after all trains are put into operation.

Photo: SMH Rail / Mid-Day.

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