04 November,2023 06:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
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The Western Railway (WR) will operate 17 new air-conditioned (AC) local train services in Mumbai from November 6, the Western Railway informed on Saturday.
With the introduction of the new services, the total number of AC local train services will increase to 96 from the present 79, the Western Railway said.
According to a statement issued by the Western Railway, the train operated between Dahanu Road and Andheri stations will be extended up to Churchgate station to meet the growing demand of commuters.
"Western Railway has decided to increase the number of AC local services over Mumbai Suburban section with effect from Monday, 6th November, 2023. With the introduction of 17 new AC services, the total number of AC services will now increase from 79 to 96 on Western Railway. Also, to meet the demand of passengers of Dahanu local, one pair of Dahanu Road - Andheri local is being extended upto Churchgate station," the Western Railway said.
Considering the rise in the number of passengers travelling by AC local trains, 17 more services will be introduced from November 6, and these trains will not be operated on the weekends.
The Western Railway operates 1,394 services, including the AC trains, it stated.
"There has been a substantial rise in the number of commuters traveling by AC local trains. Hence, for the benefit of passengers and to ease the crowd, 17 more AC services are being augmented over WR. These services will run as AC services from Monday to Friday and will run as non- AC services on Saturday & Sunday. There will be no change in the total number of services, i.e. the count is 1394 services including the 96 AC local train services. Besides this, Train No. DN93004/DN93007 which presently runs between Dahanu Road and Andheri stations will be extended up to Churchgate station. Due to this, there will be changes in the timings of a few suburban services," Sumit Thakur, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, said in the statment.
Thakur further said that out of the additional 17 services being introduced, 9 services are in UP direction & 8 services are in DOWN direction. In the UP direction, there is one service each between Nallasopara - Churchgate, Virar - Borivali and Bhayandar - Borivali, two services between Virar - Churchgate and four services between Borivali - Churchgate. Similarly, in the DOWN direction, there is one service each between Churchgate - Bhayandar and Borivali - Virar, three services each between Churchgate - Virar and Churchgate - Borivali.