Central Railway to convert 12 Mumbai local trains into AC services from Monday

Of the 12 upgraded AC services, three will operate during peak hours. Representational Pic

Central Railway will upgrade 12 non-air-conditioned suburban train services to air-conditioned (AC) services on its Main Line from Monday, enhancing the number of comfortable commuting options for daily passengers.

The upgradation will increase the total number of AC suburban services on Central Railway (CR) to 120, including 92 on the Main Line and 28 on the Harbour Line.

Three peak-hour services included

Of the 12 upgraded AC services, three will operate during peak hours. These include the 6.46 am Titwala-CSMT and 9.16 am Ghatkopar-CSMT morning services, along with the 7.18 pm CSMT-Kalyan evening local.

The remaining nine services will operate across non-peak slots, including late morning, afternoon, evening, and night, expanding AC travel availability beyond rush hours.

Main Line AC services increase to 92

With the addition of these trains, AC services on the Main Line during weekdays (Monday to Friday) will rise from 80 to 92. Harbour Line services will continue to operate 28 AC trains.

Central Railway clarified that the total number of suburban services across all lines in the Mumbai Division will remain unchanged at 1,820 services on weekdays, despite the conversion to AC rakes.

Officials said the step is part of ongoing efforts to improve passenger comfort and modernise Mumbai's suburban railway network, which remains one of the busiest commuter systems in the country.

Mumbai's Harbour Line AC locals see nearly 65 per cent jump in ridership: CR

Mumbai's Harbour Line air-conditioned (AC) local services have registered a 65 per cent rise in passenger occupancy, reflecting commuters' growing preference for comfortable and premium suburban travel, according to Central Railway.

The AC local services on the Harbour Line were introduced on January 26, and have received an encouraging response from commuters since their launch.

In view of the rising demand, Central Railway introduced 14 additional AC services on the Harbour Line from May 1. With the latest addition, the railway network now operates a total of 108 AC suburban services, including 80 on the Main Line and 28 on the Harbour Line.

According to the railway authorities, occupancy figures recorded substantial growth after the increase in services. A comparison between the periods from April 16 to 30 and May 1 to 15 showed a sharp rise in both passenger numbers and revenue earnings.

The number of passengers travelling by Harbour Line AC services increased from 2.34 lakh to 3.86 lakh, registering a growth of 64.97 per cent.

Revenue earnings from Harbour Line AC suburban services also rose from Rs 1.18 crore to Rs 1.96 crore, marking an increase of 66.43 per cent.

Meanwhile, Central Railway's Mumbai Division has intensified special ticket-checking drives in AC locals and at railway stations to curb irregular travel and ensure the safety and comfort of bona fide passengers.

The railway administration said these drives help detect and penalise passengers travelling without proper tickets and act as a deterrent against ticketless travel.

"The encouraging passenger response highlights the success of Central Railway's efforts to provide enhanced comfort and a superior travel experience to suburban commuters while strengthening premium mobility options across Mumbai's suburban network," the release stated.