Maharashtra: DFCCIL completes trial run of electric locomotives on Vaitarna–New Kharbao section

The commissioning of the Vaitarna–JNPT link is expected to provide direct rail connectivity to JNPT. PIC VIA RAJENDRA B AKLEKAR

The Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) has completed successful trial runs of electric locomotives on the 30-km Vaitarna-New Kharbao stretch of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) on Sunday, a key step toward commissioning the crucial Vaitarna-JNPT section.

DFCCIL said the Western Corridor has handled over 1.24 lakh freight trains since its inception, including a record 200 trains in a single day in November.

The commissioning of the Vaitarna-JNPT link is expected to provide direct rail connectivity to JNPT, improve container movement, and boost logistics efficiency with the development of upcoming GCTs (Goods Cargo Terminals) and MMLPs (Multi-Modal Logistics Parks).

Central Railway to make space for 3.3 lakh more commuters a day

To ease the daily crush of Mumbai's commuter traffic, Central Railway (CR) has begun converting 20 of its existing 12-car suburban rakes into 15-car formations at one go, marking one of the most significant capacity expansions on the line in over a decade. The upgrade, long demanded by commuters and transport planners, will add an estimated 3,12,000 to 3,36,000 additional passenger-carrying slots per day, thanks to the extra three coaches in each rake and the 12-13 trips typically operated by a single train set.

Sources said that with this, it will also be advisable for the Railways to rationalise the number of services too. This adjustment will be necessary to account for the additional running time associated with the longer rake formations, as well as the modified acceleration and braking characteristics of 15-car trains.

The updated timings and operational tweaks will ensure smoother integration of the longer trains into the existing timetable while minimising delays and maintaining punctuality across the network.

For the commuter who grapples daily with crowded platforms and jam-packed compartments, the change will be tangible. Each 15-car train adds about 25 per cent or 1200 extra passengers per trip, a vital increase during peak-hour services.

With 20 rakes undergoing conversion at one go, the additional carrying capacity builds up exponentially. While infrastructure constraints - primarily platform length - had stalled wider implementation earlier, CR is now rapidly completing platform extensions on key sections of the main line on the Kalyan-Kasara-Khopoli section, clearing the path for the upgrade. The conversion is no simple mechanical exercise. Workshops must rearrange coaches, extend brake pipes, synchronise electrical systems, and overhaul train control circuitry to align with the longer formation in a coordinated effort involving the division and workshops.