With 138 new trains on way, Rlys scramble to find stabling space beyond city; as the city’s population grows and demand for more services soars, existing stabling facilities are already stretched
A local train parked inside a carshed; (right) Stabling lines where suburban locals are parked between runs. Pics/By Special Arrangement
In the next five years, Mumbai’s suburban railway will undergo a major upgrade with new corridors, lines, and stations — including the Virar–Dahanu 3rd and 4th lines, Borivali-Virar and Kalyan-Kasara corridors, and the Karjat-Panvel link. Along with these projects will come additional stations and car sheds. But there’s one looming question railway authorities are struggling to answer: where will all the new trains park?
As the city’s population grows and demand for more services soars, existing stabling facilities are already stretched. With ambitious expansion plans underway, both Western Railway (WR) and Central Railway (CR) are scouting for land outside Mumbai to accommodate the surge in new rakes.
The parking crunch
Currently, WR operates 112 trains with 1406 services and has stabling space for 116 trains. To keep pace, WR has targeted 61 new stabling lines by 2031. Of these, around 25 will come up beyond Dahisar, replacing the lost capacity at Borivli due to the 5th and 6th line project. Another 25 are planned around Virar for the Borivli–Virar and Virar–Dahanu expansions, and 11 more at Dahanu for the quadrupling project — taking the total to 61.
Virar carshed, one of the six major facilities that maintain Mumbai’s suburban train fleet
CR, meanwhile, operates 166 trains across 1810 services, with 162 stabling lines (153 for 12-car, nine for 15-car). But with 138 new trains expected under MUTP Phases 3 and 3A, the fleet will swell to 304 trains, requiring 266 additional stabling lines. Of these, only 92 have been planned — including yards at Karjat, Mohape, Bhivpuri, and Panvel — leaving a massive shortfall. Six more trains are currently stabled at platforms, including four at CSMT and two at Panvel.
Why outside Mumbai?
“The strategic decision to push stabling yards to suburban areas such as Virar, Dahanu, and Panvel comes as a response to severe land scarcity in Mumbai’s central zones. Expanding facilities beyond the congested core will ease pressure and allow more operational flexibility,” said Sunil Udasi, chief public relations officer of Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC).
Two new car sheds
Two new EMU car sheds are also on the cards — one at Vangaon (WR) and another at Bhivpuri (CR). According to MRVC officials, these will be equipped with advanced inspection systems, using sensors to replace manual checks. Each shed will be able to handle 80–100 trains.
At present, six sheds (Kurla, Kalwa, Sanpada on CR; Mahalaxmi, Kandivli, Virar on WR) maintain about 250 trains — the current lifeline of Mumbai. “Let’s hope the big plans don’t get stuck. The railways must implement them within a set timeframe. We already face daily delays; if stabling shortages choke operations, new services will remain only on paper,” said Himanshu Vartak, a commuter from Palghar.
“The railways must use existing yards efficiently and ensure accessibility for motormen and guards. Plans should be implemented with minimal disruption to regular operations. Advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence can help optimise space and scheduling,” said Jagdeep Desai, architect, academician, and chairperson of the Forum for Improving Quality of Life in Mumbai.
‘Good plan’
Giriraj Joshi, commuter
‘Good that the railways have started planning for space in advance. We welcome new trains, but without proper stabling yards, it’s like buying cars without parking spaces’
Representative, Rail Pravasi Mandal
‘Expanding yards at Virar, Dahanu, and Panvel is practical, but authorities must also plan last-mile connectivity for staff. Often, motormen and guards have to walk long distances to reach a parked train, delaying services’
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