Passengers traveling through New Delhi Railway Station have noticed a significant change in recent days. The 1AC coaches of the Intercity Express are now equipped with automatic doors, a feature previously limited to premium trains like Vande Bharat and Tejas Express. Indian Railways is moving towards making travel safer by removing manual doors. By February 2026, the authorities plan to make automatic plug doors a standard part of the fleet, covering not just premium coaches but also non-AC trains.
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Automatic Doors for Non-AC and Amrit Bharat Trains
The safety upgrade is no longer exclusive to expensive tickets. The Integral Coach Factory (ICF) officially rolled out a 15-car non-AC train for the Western Railway on February 18, 2026. This marks the first time that passengers in non-AC coaches will have the safety of automated doors. Additionally, the Ministry has ordered modern sensors for the upcoming Amrit Bharat Version 3.0 coaches. These trains are designed to include automatic sliding doors even in lower-class segments to prevent accidents.
Safety Rules and Locking Mechanism
The new system operates on a Zero-Speed Interlocking rule. This means the train cannot start or pick up speed until the sensors confirm that all doors are locked. The control of these doors lies centrally with the Guard or Loco Pilot, preventing passengers from opening them while the train is moving. This mechanism is designed to stop people from boarding or deboarding a running train, which is a major cause of accidents. In case of an emergency, every coach has a manual override button and a pull-handle to open the doors once the train stops.
Cost of Installation and Future Goals
Retrofitting existing coaches with this technology involves significant investment. Converting a single LHB coach costs approximately ₹20 lakh to ₹25 lakh. For suburban travel, equipping a full 12-car local train rake costs roughly ₹4–5 crore. The Ministry of Railways has set a goal to have 800 Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat trains with these automatic doors in service by 2030. This transition transforms automatic doors from a luxury feature into a basic safety standard for all passengers.