8 more MMTS rakes to be introduced from May

South Central Railway (SCR) is gearing up to introduce eight more MMTS rakes in addition to the existing 10 rakes being operated on different routes. The MMTS rakes are likely to be inducted into service from May.

The new MMTS rakes will accommodate more passengers than the current ones. According to SCR officials, in the existing nine-coach MMTS rakes, there were around 700 seats and additional 2,000 passengers could travel while standing but the new rakes would have a seating capacity of 1,150 persons and a standing capacity of nearly 4,000 travellers. This apart, emphasis is laid on passenger comfort and convenience in the new rakes. The coaches will sport different colour patterns and glossy looks with interiors decked up with vinyl wrapping providing enhanced seating comfort.

The new rakes will have surveillance cameras installed in the ladies coaches, LED display board displaying the train movement, approaching



station and destination details. The new rakes are equipped with wider windows covered with safety mesh and roof mounted ventilation unit. 

“Four trains have already arrived from the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. We will introduce them in May and another four trains will be operated in a phased manner,” said a senior official. These new MMTS trains are likely to be operated on the existing sections, including Lingampally - Falaknuma, Hyderabad - Falaknuma and Secunderabad to Lingampally.

Further, to accommodate the 12-coach rakes, platforms of Vidyanagar, Seethaphalmandi, Yakutpura, Dabeerpura and Malakpet stations have been extended with a cost of nearly Rs 4 crore. At present, around 1.5 lakh to 1.8 lakh passengers travel daily by MMTS trains in Hyderabad in 121 services. Once the new MMTS rakes begin operations, more passengers can be accommodated.