AC Trains: Railways to Launch a Much Needed Service in Humid Mumbai!

The railway ministry will launch air-conditioned trains at the beginning of next year; one AC train with around seven services daily will run on the Western Line, from Churchgate to Borivali.

By Vishaka George

October 26, 2017

Nearly 70 lakh passengers travel on Mumbai’s local trains every day. However, air-conditioned trains were never an option for millions of these commuters in the humid city.

Paying heed to the need for such a service, the railway ministry will launch these trains at the beginning of next year, NDTV reported.

On Jan 1st, tried and tested AC trains will ferry passengers across the city.

For starters, one AC train with around seven services daily will run on the Western Line, running from Churchgate to Borivali. This Line in Mumbai has 37 stations and carries over 35 lakh passengers every day.

Western Line of Mumbai’s local trains – Source, Flickr

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed the news to reporters
“The AC trains have been tried and tested and will be introduced on January 1,” Mr Goyal told reporters.

Fares on the AC train would be around 1.5 times the cost of first class tickets in the existing local trains, or like those on the Delhi Metro said officials.

The first such train was scheduled to run this month, but due to certain operational issues, was delayed. In June, a trial run of the blue-and-silver train was marred by a series of incidents, the Hindu reported. It first ran into problems on the Central Line because its height was more than what was permitted. Technical glitches were also reported during a trial on the Western Line.

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