The Western Railway (WR) plans to increase the number of AC local train services as well as improve the fare structure for single-journey tickets.
This development comes nearly four years after the WR introduced its first air-conditioned local trains in order to make the AC local trains more accessible to citizens and also increase the passenger ridership.
WR now plans to add eight more AC trains bringing the total up to 20 services per day. These new services are now proposed on the corridor between Churchgate-Virar, with some services originating and terminating at Goregaon, Borivali and Nalasopara.
A senior WR official said that of the total services planned to be introduced, one each will be during the morning and evening peak hours. One pair will be between Churchgate-Goregaon-Churchgate, two pairs between Churchgate-Borivli-Churchgate, and one service each will run from Virar to Churchgate (in the morning peak hour) and from Churchgate to Nalasopara (in the evening peak hour).
The Mumbai division has already sent the proposal to the WR headquarters for the approval. The decision to introduce more AC trains, especially during peak hours, is made with the hope that it will encourage more passengers to opt for AC locals.
Besides, it has also decided to introduce a Metro-like fare structure for single-journey tickets. WR is also planning to allow second-class and first-class ticket -holders to travel by AC train by paying excess fare to on-board ticket examiners.
Recently in a public survey undertaken recently on fares, nearly 52% of the 35,685 respondents wanted fares to be reduced.
Moreover, it has come to light that even though WR has a fleet of six AC rakes, it runs only 12 services with two rakes. However, now the Railway ministry has also become proactive in promoting AC trains. It has already decided that all future trains to be procured will be fully air-conditioned.
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