Mumbai: 15-car slow services on Andheri-Virar from today

WR will also add seven 15-car fast services

Starting Monday, the Western Railway will introduce 15-car services between Andheri and Virar. It will upgrade 25 services, including 13 Virar-bound and 12 Andheri-bound services, from 12 cars to 15 cars. Of these, 18 services are slow line services, while 7 are on fast lines.

An extended platform at Bhayander station

Sumit Thakur, chief PRO of Western Railway, said the move will increase the carrying capacity of these services by 25 per cent. "The augmentation will provide additional accommodation to commuters for their convenience and comfort. It will be a huge relief to the commuters when the services are opened for all. The project for extension of 27 platforms at 14 stations on slow corridor between Andheri and Virar for running 15 car services on it has been carried out at an estimated cost of approximately Rs 60 crore," he said.

To run the services, WR upgraded the stations in about the 40 kms between Andheri and Virar. It included extension of 27 platforms, yard remodelling of four major yards, Andheri, Bhayander, Vasai Road and Virar, construction and extension of five foot overbridges and provision of double discharge at Jogeshwari for smooth dispersal of commuters.

WR first introduced 12-car services in 1986, followed by 15-car locals in 2009 on the fast corridor, besides introducing the AC local, a first in the country on December 25, 2017.

27
No. of platforms that were extended for the project