Western Railway (WR) has announced an ambitious capacity expansion plan aimed at nearly doubling train handling capabilities across Mumbai and five other major cities under its jurisdiction — Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Ujjain, and Indore. The programme forms part of a national initiative covering 48 cities to ease congestion, improve punctuality, and enhance passenger comfort on long-distance and suburban routes.
An official stated that the expansion will combine terminal augmentation, signalling upgrades, multitracking, maintenance infrastructure development, and construction of new urban terminals. In Mumbai alone, WR currently operates 44 long-distance trains. With planned projects, the zone expects to introduce around 65 additional long-distance trains and add roughly 70 coaches per day to existing services. A major focus is on the Mumbai Central–Dahanu Road corridor, with multitracking projects worth Rs 6,857 crore. The Mumbai Central–Borivali 6th line, under the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-II), spans 30 km at Rs 919 crore. Phase I between Khar and Kandivali is operational, and the remaining Kandivali–Borivali stretch is expected to open by January 2026. These additions will allow suburban and long-distance trains to run on dedicated tracks, increasing operational efficiency and freeing capacity for new services.
Further projects include the Borivali–Virar 5th and 6th lines (Rs 2,184 crore) and the Virar–Dahanu Road 3rd and 4th lines (Rs 3,578 crore). A new double chord line between Naigaon and Juichandra (Rs 176 crore) will connect directly to the Konkan Railway, removing the need for locomotive reversals at Vasai Road and opening possibilities for faster travel to Goa and the Konkan region. Suburban services are set for a major boost. WR currently operates 1,406 daily services using 116 rakes maintained at three car sheds. Once multitracking projects and platform extensions are completed, the railway plans to introduce 165 additional suburban trains, catering to Mumbai’s rapidly growing commuter demand.
The capacity expansion programme follows a phased, time-bound approach, delivering progressive benefits over the next five years while targeting full doubling of train handling capacity by 2030. An industry expert noted that segregating suburban and long-distance traffic, along with modern infrastructure upgrades, will be crucial for reducing delays and improving passenger experience. By focusing on long-term planning, signalling modernisation, and multitracking, WR aims to align Mumbai’s rail network with sustainable urban mobility objectives, supporting equitable access and efficient transport solutions in one of India’s busiest metropolitan corridors.
Western Railway Plans Major Expansion To Double Train Capacity By 2030
