Mumbai Local Train Services News: More AC Coaches, Trains Every 2 Minutes Soon

Mumbai's suburban railway network is set for a major upgrade, with the headway between local trains being reduced and improvements in passenger comfort on the way. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Monday that the gap between local trains will be brought down from the current 180 seconds (three minutes) to 120 seconds (two minutes), as per a Hindustan Times report

In the initial phase, the headway will be reduced from 180 seconds to 150 seconds. Further reduction to 120 seconds will take place gradually, depending on the completion of ongoing and proposed works, the minister said during his visit to the city. He also stated that the number of local train services on Central and Western Railways will increase by 10 per cent, adding to the current 3,000 daily services.

Air-Conditioned Coaches

The Indian Railways is also working on enhancing passenger experience by improving the quality of local train services. Vaishnaw mentioned that the plan includes introducing HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) technology, similar to that used in Vande Bharat trains. This system provides 99.99 per cent bacteria-free oxygen, ensuring a healthier commuting environment.

"We are also looking to redesign train bogies for better comfort," the minister said. However, sources indicate that details on the new bogie design and its implementation timeline remain unclear. The redesigned coaches may be introduced under Phase 3 and Phase 3A of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP), or new orders may be placed.

Expansion Of AC Rakes And New Railway Lines

Currently, the procurement of 238 air-conditioned rakes for Mumbai's suburban railway network is in progress under MUTP. This includes 47 AC rakes under Phase 3 and 191 AC rakes under Phase 3A. However, sources revealed that political opposition has temporarily halted the process.

Meanwhile, about 301 km of new railway lines are being laid under MUTP, with several projects at different stages of completion. These include lines between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Parel, Kalyan and Asangaon, Kalyan and Kasara, Airoli and Kalwa, and Borivali and Virar (harbour line). Work is also underway to enhance capacity at nine train terminuses.

Concerns From Passenger Associations

Despite these developments, concerns have been raised by passenger associations. Nandkumar Deshmukh, president of the Federation of Suburban Rail Passenger Associations, urged the railways to focus on completing existing projects before further reducing the headway. "There are so many rail projects that are running slow. They must be finished first," he said, according to the HT report.

The proposed changes aim to make Mumbai's suburban railway system faster and more efficient, benefiting millions of daily commuters.