A long wait for commuters seeking longer trains on Western Railway

Currently except for Dahanu and Umroli, at all stations, work on extension of platforms to accommodate 15-car locals is on

Western Railway commuters who stay beyond Virar have sought 15-car local trains till Dahanu, after the WR told them that it may not be immediately possible to add services due to line capacity constraints. But the railways have told them it will be possible to start 15-car locals from Dahanu only after the route is quadrupled.

The Western Railway line between Churchgate and Virar is quadrupled, but between Virar and Dahanu, there are just two lines while two more are under construction.

"The Western Railway has its suburban section till Dahanu but commuters staying beyond Virar have very limited local trains. Officials told us that they will be able to introduce more services only when the line is quadrupled, which will not happen for another three to four years," a commuter said.

The Dahanu Vaitarna Pravasi Sevabhavi Sanstha (DVPSS) had filed an RTI query seeking information and update and the Mumbai division of the Western Railway replied that it will be possible to start 15-car locals from Dahanu only after the quadrupling.

Passengers upset

"If this is the case, then why extend platforms on the mainline between Vaitarna-Vangaon? If it takes another 10 years to complete quadrupling, we will have to wait. So no additional services and no 15-car trains?" questioned Himanshu Vartak of DVPSS.

Vartak said as of now except Dahanu and Umroli, at all stations, the work on extension of platforms to accommodate 15-car locals is on, so currently there is no issue for 15-car trains at Vaitarna, Kelve Road, Palghar, Boisar, Vangaon.

"At Saphale extension work is complete but due to the level crossing no progress was made. They can provide a double halt at Saphale and Umroli to 15-car locals like they did on the Virar-Borivli section when only few stations had sufficient platforms for these locals. Till the work is completed at Dahanu they should start 15-car locals upto Palghar or Boisar with double halts at Saphale and Umroli. About 60 per cent commuters on the Virar - Dahanu section are from Palghar and Boisar," he said.

Officials speak

Explaining the issue, railway officials said that at Dahanu Road, the existing PF 4/5 has the capacity to accommodate only 12-car trains and there is no scope of extending the platform due to stabling siding at the north end and a crossover at the south end.

A senior official explained that wherever space is available, platforms are being extended to accommodate longer trains. "As far as giving a double halt is concerned, it will delay trains on the corridor which already faces capacity constraints," a senior official said.

"The existing line capacity has already reached 140 per cent and there is no further scope for immediate additions. We are, however, working on upgrades, capacity expansion and speeding up the line to 160kmph. This will pave the way for more additions, faster trains and better quality of services," Western Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Sumit Thakur said.

How many local trains beyond Virar?

Dahanu-Churchgate 6
Churchgate-Dahanu 7
Dahanu-Andheri 1
Andheri-Dahanu 1
Dahanu-Borivli 1
Borivli-Dahanu 1
Dahanu-Virar 8
Virar-Dahanu 9
Dahanu-Dadar 2
Dadar-Dahanu 1