The new ‘readymade’ 15-car train has arrived in Mumbai on Western Railway (WR) from the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai. Once commissioned, the new stock will allow WR to convert around 10-12 existing 12-car services into 15-car formations, significantly increasing peak-hour carrying capacity on crowded routes.

A 15-car train carries roughly 25 per cent more passengers than a 12-car rake, and railway officials believe the conversion will help distribute commuter loads more evenly across platforms and coaches. Most of the augmentation is expected on the WR suburban sections where several platforms already support 15-coach operations.