Mumbai’s lifeline, the local trains, is getting a long-awaited upgrade! After a four-year wait, both Central Railway (CR) and Western Railway (WR) are introducing new rakes to boost the city’s commuter services. Western Railway has welcomed its first air-conditioned (AC) local train, bringing its total to eight AC trains, aimed at expanding passengers’ comfort.
Meanwhile, Central Railway is adding a non-AC local train to replace older services on the Harbour Line, marking a significant step in modernising the city’s suburban rail network.
WR’s AC rake expansion and CR’s Harbour Line overhaul
Western Railway has received an air-conditioned (AC) rake from Chennai’s Integral Coach Factory, marking a step forward in boosting suburban services. This addition increases WR’s AC fleet to eight and will enable the replacement of 10–12 non-AC services without affecting schedules. With over 1.3 lakh passengers using WR’s suburban routes daily, this upgrade aims to reduce mechanical issues and improve reliability. WR has also requested an upgrade in the cooling capacity of AC units from 15 tons to 17 tons to enhance commuter comfort.
Meanwhile, Central Railway’s new non-AC rake will replace older trains on the Harbour Line, ensuring smoother operations. However, political opposition has stalled the introduction of AC services on CR since 2022, with no updates on new AC rakes for the region.
Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation is also planning to phase out all non-AC trains, with 238 AC rakes set to arrive under the World Bank-funded Mumbai Urban Transport Project.
