Starting Today November 27, Western Railway (WR) has launched 13 new air-conditioned (AC) local train services on the Mumbai suburban network. This move increases the total number of AC services to 109 on weekdays and 65 on weekends, bringing more comfort to daily commuters.
According to WR Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek, the new services replace some non-AC trains to meet the growing demand for air-conditioned travel. “The rising popularity of AC locals among commuters has driven this expansion. These 13 additional services will run daily and help reduce crowding during peak and non-peak hours,” he explained.
The first of the new AC locals will depart from Churchgate at 12:34 pm today. Out of the 13 additional services, six will run towards Churchgate and seven towards Virar. The breakdown includes two services each from Virar-Churchgate and Bhayandar-Churchgate, and one each from Virar-Bandra and Bhayandar-Andheri. In the opposite direction, there will be two services from Churchgate-Virar and one each from Churchgate-Bhayandar, Andheri-Virar, Bandra-Bhayandar, Mahalaxmi-Borivli, and Borivli-Bhayandar. Despite these changes, the total number of train services on the Western line remains unchanged at 1,406 daily. The announcement of new AC trains coincides with recent approvals for railway infrastructure projects in Maharashtra.
The Union cabinet recently greenlit multi-tracking projects, including the Jalgaon-Manmad 4th line, Bhusawal-Khandwa 3rd and 4th lines, and Manikpur-Iradatganj 3rd line. These projects aim to decongest rail traffic, enhance operations, and improve connectivity across the state. Mumbai, with its eight major terminal stations, is also seeing the construction of a ninth terminal at Jogeshwari to cater to the growing passenger demand. The introduction of more AC locals is expected to ease congestion on the Western line, offering commuters a more comfortable travel option. With the WR consistently upgrading its services, Mumbai’s local train network continues to adapt to the needs of the city’s growing population.
