Mumbai: Central Railway to increase AC local train services by 10

The last time the Central Railway introduced new AC services, there had been protests from commuters of regular trains. File pic/Ashish Raje

The Central Railway will be introducing 10 more AC local services over the suburban main line from 6 November 2023. With this the total number of daily services of AC trains will increase to 66. The total number of suburban services on Central Railway Mumbai Division will remain 1,810. Out of these 10 new services, there will be one each in the morning and evening peak hours. These AC locals will run from Monday to Saturday and will not run on Sundays and nominated holidays.

At present, there are 14 AC local trains in Mumbai. As per official figures, while Western Railway Mumbai runs 79 services with about six trains, Central Railway Mumbai runs five trains with 56 services, with remaining trains being under maintenance and spare.

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The last time the Central Railway introduced new AC services, there had been protests from commuters of regular trains, leading to an agitation and subsequent withdrawal of the services. AC local trains have become a political tool since August 2022 with NCP president Sharad Pawar calling for their complete withdrawal from the city and restoration of regular services for working-class commuters. In August 2022, after protests from commuters who illegally board local trains from Kalwa carshed and also those from Badlapur against the new AC local services led by NCP leader Jitendra Awhad, the Central Railway had withdrawn ten new AC services within five days of their introduction.