19 May,2025 11:05 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
For commuters who travel over 10 km daily, Western Railway’s AC locals are proving to be a smarter, more economical choice compared to buses and metro services. Representational Pic/File
A new fare comparison between Mumbai Metro lines, BEST buses, and suburban rail services shows that Western Railway's Mumbai air-conditioned (AC) local trains offer the best value for money, especially for long-distance commuters, a Western Railway statement said.
A comparison between monthly season tickets and single journey fares across different modes of public transports in Mumbai shows Mumbai AC local trains of Western Railway offer a cost-efficient commute. The results show that Western Railway's AC locals have the lowest cost per kilometre, particularly for those travelling 60 km or more daily, it said.
Why Western Railway AC locals trains stand out
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Affordable comfort: Fully air-conditioned trains at low rates.
Frequent service: 109 trips daily during weekdays, and the number is growing.
Safety and cleanliness: Modern interiors, automatic doors, and special women's coaches.
Wider coverage: Long routes that serve a large part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
For commuters who travel over 10 km daily, Western Railway's AC locals are proving to be a smarter, more economical choice compared to buses and metro services.
The AC local trains in Mumbai are a success when it comes to a quick and pocket-friendly travel to long distance in the city and its adjoining areas.
Looking at the high demand for AC local trains, in March this year, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had informed the Parliament on March 19 that the government has cleared the proposal for the procurement of 238 new air-conditioned local trains for Mumbai.
"I was in Maharashtra, and while discussions with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on the subject of improvement of Mumbai local trains, this topic came up, and we are glad to announce that the procurement of 238 new local trains has been finally approved," Vaishnaw had earlier said, while responding to an issue raised by Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad.
It was first on May 19, 2023, that the ministry of railways issued a one-sheet, five-point note to the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC), the rail upgrade body, directing them to improve Mumbai local trains into classy Vande Metro (suburban) trains.
The note stated that MRVC should place orders for the "procurement of 238 trains of Vande Metro (suburban) under Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) 3 and 3A."
The MUTP projects are jointly funded by the state and the central government to upgrade the city's rail network with new corridors and trains.
