Piyush Goyal Inaugurates Bandra-Madgaon Train, Enhancing Mumbai-Konkan Travel

Union minister Piyush Goyal will inaugurate a new bi-weekly train service between Bandra Terminus and Madgaon on Thursday afternoon, according to Western Railway (WR). This new train aims to improve connectivity between Mumbai's western suburbs and the Konkan region, including Goa.

The railway board approved the train service a day before the inauguration. The train will leave Madgaon in Goa every Tuesday and Thursday at 7.40 am, arriving at Bandra Terminus at 11.40 pm. It will depart from Bandra Terminus every Wednesday and Friday at 6.50 am, reaching Madgaon at 10 pm.

Enhanced Connectivity for Western Suburbs

The WR release highlighted that this new service will provide direct connectivity for residents of Mumbai’s western suburbs to the Konkan region. However, WR has not yet announced when regular services will commence.

On its inaugural run, the train will depart from Borivali at 1.25 pm on Thursday and reach Madgaon the next day at 4 am. Along its route, it will stop at Vasai Road, Bhiwandi Road, Panvel, Roha, Veer, Chiplun, Ratnagiri, Kankavli, Sindhudurg, Sawantwadi Road, Thivim, and Karmali stations.

Potential Impact on Suburban Services

Railway sources have expressed concerns that the 20-car train might affect the punctuality of suburban locals on the Western Railway line. This is because the train's engine needs to be reversed at Vasai Road due to the absence of a direct link line between Western Railway and Central Railway.

The northern suburb of Borivali is part of Piyush Goyal's Mumbai North Lok Sabha constituency. The new train will feature various classes of coaches including AC 2-Tier, AC 3-Tier, AC 3-Tier Economy Class, Sleeper Class, and General Second Class.

This new service is expected to significantly benefit commuters by providing a direct link between Mumbai’s western suburbs and key destinations in the Konkan region and Goa.