It is reported that the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation has signed an agreement with Bombardier Transportation to provide 72, 12 car rakes, under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project Phase 2. While improvements in the new rakes are expected, what would hit the eye first the straight sidewall design sported by the trains in European and US markets.

The use of stainless steel will allow train builders, Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, to make shells that will have flat walls unlike the bulging bell shape that the Siemens rakes sport.

Mr Rakesh Saksena MD of MRVC said that the first of the 12 car prototypes of these trains are expected to hit the city in about a year and half. Supply of trains is expected to start by around December 2013.

Mr Naresh Chandra director (technical) at MRVC said that with the use of stainless steel, problems of corrosion, a big factor in a coastal city like Mumbai, is expected to be taken care off better. He added that "We are expect each rake to cost around INR 32 crores, with the Bombardier Transportation electrical systems costing half that amount and the other half for the coaches and interiors."

(Sourced from www.mumbaimirror.com)