In a bid to enhance the daily commute for Mumbaikars, Central Railway has announced plans to increase the number of air-conditioned (AC) local trains. This update was shared in Parliament on Wednesday, with confirmation that the government has approved the procurement of 238 new AC local trains.
Boosting the fleet of AC local trains
Currently, there are 109 AC local trains serving Western and Central lines of Mumbai. These trains operate 65 services on both weekdays and weekends, with 13 new services recently added to the suburban routes. This expansion is part of an ongoing effort to improve the overall service and meet the rising demand for more comfortable travel options.
The rise of the AC local train
The AC local train was introduced on December 25, 2017, under the Western Railway network. In its early five months, the service gained popularity, attracting over 500,000 passengers. During the sweltering summer months, the demand surged, with over 300,000 commuters opting for the cool comfort of the AC trains each month.
However, plans to convert all regular Mumbai local train compartments into AC trains have been put on hold. This decision follows opposition from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in August 2022.
