Central Railway (CR) motormen have poured ice water on passengers fantasising about the introduction of more 15-car local trains. Following the June 9 Mumbra tragedy, where lives were lost after passengers fell out of two overcrowded trains, railway authorities have been looking for ways to ferry more and more passengers, and one such plan is the introduction of more 15-car trains, which have 33 per cent more capacity than their 12-car variants.

mid-day had highlighted the issue in its July 1 edition, how CR had started working to introduce more 15-car local trains. However, the decision has now led to conflict between the trade union and the CR administration.

“We have been hearing that the CR is planning to operate more 15-car trains. We will not operate a 15-car local train until Assistant Loco Pilots (ALP) are assigned to work with us. There are a lot of issues and concerns, and we have sent multiple reminders to the authorities. The latest reminder was sent on July 18,” Praveen Bajpai, president of the Central Railway Mazdoor Sangh, told mid-day.