Mumbai: A Rs 500-crore boost for mixed A/C local plan

CR’s AC local at CSMT in December. The railways will have to figure out how to link AC locals with regular trains. File pic

The railway budget presented this week has given broad hints that Mumbai may get partial air-conditioned local trains instead of the full ones that have been plying amid low response. The Assets-Acquisition, Construction and Replacement for 2021-22 Railway Board budget document opened a new head for ‘Partial Air Conditioning of 78 EMU rakes for running in Mumbai at a cost of Rs 507 crore'. A sum of Rs 1,000 crore has been allocated this year, opening a new accounts head.

Mumbai has 11 12-car AC trains and even though those running have seen a spike in numbers after the recent reopening of local for all, the overall response has been low, primarily because of higher fares than first-class and limited frequency. The city also has one partial AC train awaiting trials.

It was first reported in mid-day on December 29, 2017, with suggestions from former managing director of MRVC, Dr PC Sehgal, that air-conditioned trains should be split instead of having 12-car trains, so that passengers of all classes can access it. Sehgal had suggested that the railways should think of a middle way out, instead of forcing an entire air-conditioned train on commuters.

An AC local at Kurla station on the CR. File pic

"Those with monthly or quarterly passes will not invest again in a new one just for AC trains, which have limited frequency. There are benefits, like lesser crowd and a more comfortable journey, but with limited trips, the downsides are more from a Mumbaikars' perspective," a commuter said.

The first AC local in Mumbai had started on December 25, 2017, on Western Railway. Before the pandemic, one AC train had been inducted in regular service on Central Railway's trans-harbour line but was discontinued due to the lockdown. Then one was introduced on the CR main line, which has started garnering some response.

While a normal 12-car local train carries 3,504 passengers with 1,168 seated and 2,336 standees, the AC local train with vestibules can ferry about 6,500 passengers. Railways will now have to figure out how to run these trains in the post-pandemic scenario, once the lockdown is completely lifted.

6,500
No. of passengers that an AC local can carry

3,504
No. of passengers a regular train can carry