Railways 'waterproof' plan: Mumbai local can now run in 12 inches of water!

Just one month into the monsoon and Mumbai local is struggling to weather the season. Heavy rains have affected rail services on both routes of the Central Railway. Indian Railways is, however, now ready with a plan to provide life support to Mumbai's lifeline during the monsoon season. Over 7 million daily suburban train commuters witness frequent disruption in services due to water logging on the railway tracks. Central Railway is set to roll out a modified 'waterproof' locomotive engine that can be operated even in 12 inches of water. Generally, a locomotive engine stops with only four inches of water, forcing the train to stay until the water on the railway tracks recedes.
According to a railway official, the modified 'waterproof' locomotive engine can move local trains as well as long-distance trains that get stuck on railway tracks due to water-logging during heavy rainfall.

Only one locomotive engine has been modified yet and there are plans to modify one more engine, an official told Business Standard. "This loco can be pressed in shunting duties to clear the marooned or defective rakes from tracks to clear path for the resumption of suburban services in shortest possible time," the official said.