Mumbai Introduces Dedicated Train Coach For Senior Citizens On Central Railway
Mumbai has rolled out its first local train with a dedicated coach exclusively for senior citizens on the Central Railway line, marking a significant move towards inclusive travel. The inaugural coach was attached to the 3.45 pm CSMT–Dombivli train and was met with enthusiasm by elderly passengers who welcomed the comfort and space it offered.
Eighty-eight-year-old Rajpati Upadhyaya was the first official user of the coach. Equipped with his senior citizen ID, he said the new coach will make travel much easier, especially during peak hours. Similarly, 61-year-old, who boarded at Currey Road, noted the coach was more spacious than the previous few seats reserved in regular compartments and appreciated the thoughtful repurposing of an underutilised luggage coach.
Central Railway plans to equip all 156 suburban trains with one senior citizen coach each at a total estimated cost of ₹7.57 crore. Each conversion costs around ₹4.85 lakh and is being carried out by the Matunga Workshop team. These coaches are being installed in the sixth coach from the Mumbai end of EMU rakes, following Railway Board directives.
The modified compartments feature enhanced seating arrangements with three 3-seater benches and two 2-seater units, stainless steel tubular partitions with integrated grab poles, safety ladders at doorways, and vinyl-wrapped interiors for better aesthetics.
This initiative is aimed at reducing the struggle senior citizens face while boarding or alighting from trains and ensuring safer, more dignified travel experiences for them.
