Central Railway’s plan to introduce more AC trains on its lines seems to have ended before it started. Even as the new 9.5-km stretch of Diva-Thane rail corridor inches towards completion, making space for 80-100 additional suburban services, CR does not have enough AC local trains left.

CR chief public relations officer Shivaji Sutar said two more AC trains were scheduled to arrive earlier, but they have not yet. CR has a total of four AC trains, of which three have been introduced on the main, trans-harbour and harbour lines. The one AC train that is left can run 10-12 services a day at the most, and once operational CR will not have any back-up AC train.