Western Railway has announced temporary operational adjustments affecting two high-traffic intercity train services connecting Mumbai with Ahmedabad, reflecting a broader effort to manage passenger demand, terminal congestion, and network efficiency during a peak travel window. The changes involve a short-term shift in terminal operations for one conventional express service and an increase in carrying capacity on a premium semi-high-speed train.
For daily commuters and long-distance travellers, these revisions highlight how railway authorities are increasingly relying on flexible service planning rather than permanent infrastructure changes to address urban mobility pressures. Mumbai’s rail terminals, particularly Mumbai Central, remain among the most congested transport nodes in the country, serving both suburban and long-distance rail traffic. As part of the temporary plan, the terminal point for a key daytime express connecting Mumbai with Ahmedabad has been relocated from Mumbai Central to Bandra Terminus. Rail officials indicated that the adjustment is designed to distribute operational load more evenly across Mumbai’s western corridor terminals without disrupting intermediate station schedules. Services between Borivali and Ahmedabad will continue to follow existing timings, ensuring minimal impact on passengers boarding along the route.
Urban transport planners note that Bandra Terminus has increasingly emerged as a pressure-relief terminal for Western Railway, particularly as Mumbai Central undergoes periodic operational strain due to redevelopment works, higher passenger volumes, and complex suburban-long-distance train overlaps. The shift is expected to temporarily ease congestion in South Mumbai while maintaining network reliability. In parallel, Western Railway has also announced a temporary capacity enhancement on a premium Vande Bharat service operating between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The train will run with additional coaches during the specified period, increasing seat availability without increasing the number of daily services. Officials said the move responds to sustained demand on one of the country’s busiest business and intercity corridors.
Transport analysts view the augmentation as part of a wider strategy to maximise the efficiency of existing rolling stock, particularly on electrified corridors where higher-capacity trains can reduce per-passenger energy consumption. Increasing coach strength, rather than adding new train paths, also helps limit congestion on already saturated rail sections. The temporary nature of both measures underscores the railways’ growing reliance on adaptive operations as cities like Mumbai continue to grapple with space constraints, rising travel demand, and the need for lower-carbon mobility solutions. Rail-based intercity travel remains significantly more energy-efficient than road or air alternatives, making service optimisation a key climate and infrastructure priority.
Railway officials said passengers are being informed through official channels and advised to check boarding stations in advance. As Mumbai’s transport ecosystem evolves alongside metro expansion and station redevelopment, such short-term operational recalibrations are expected to become a regular feature of urban rail management.
Western Railway Reworks Terminals And Train Capacities
