Overview

• Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said automatic doors will be standard on all new suburban rakes, with initial closed‑door services targeted before the end of 2025.
• A total of 238 fully air‑conditioned rakes fitted with sensor‑based automatic doors are in production for deployment on Central and Western Railway sections.
• Retrofitting of the predominantly non‑AC fleet is advancing, with an ICF/Kurla prototype due in November that adds ventilated door panels, roof‑mounted air circulation and inter‑coach vestibules.
• The door system is designed to close before departure and reopen only after the train halts, a change officials say will curb boarding or alighting from moving trains.
• The initiative follows a fatal June fall near Mumbra and ongoing daily casualties, as MRVC also pursues a separate global tender for 2,856 AC Vande Metro coaches.