Central Railway to introduce 14 new AC locals on Main line to enhance commuter comfort this summer | Representational Image
Mumbai: In a move aimed at providing greater comfort to commuters during the sweltering summer months, Central Railway (CR) is considering to introduce 14 additional air-conditioned suburban services on its Main line.
These new services will replace existing non-AC locals, offering a more comfortable travel option for the growing number of passengers opting for air-conditioned travel.
Currently, CR operates a total of 1,810 suburban services across its network, including the Main line, Harbour line, Trans-Harbour line, and the Belapur-Uran corridor. Of these, 66 AC services are presently running on the Main line.
Sources within CR reveal that the proposal includes the addition of 14 more AC services on the Main line alone, with two of them scheduled during peak hours — one running from Kalyan to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in the morning and another from CSMT to Thane in the evening.
The decision comes in response to a noticeable rise in the number of passengers preferring air-conditioned travel, especially during the summer season.
In 2023, the number of passengers who travelled in AC locals of Central Railway (CR) was 2.09 crore, which increased to 2.84 crore in 2024. With temperatures soaring, the AC services have seen an uptick in ridership, prompting the railway authorities to expand the service.
According to sources, CR officials are currently working out the operational logistics for introducing the new services, which are expected to enhance the overall commuter experience while also easing congestion in some crowded non-AC trains.
