More commuters opt for AC local trains on CR as mercury soars

According to the statistics available with the Central Railway, AC local trains operating on the fast railway lines has received a better commuter response.

MUMBAI: Central Railways has seen a marginal rise in passengers taking the Air-Conditioned (AC) local trains nearly a month after the introduction of 34 new AC train services. Passengers’ associations have, however, demanded an immediate reduction of fares of the AC local train.

Between February 1 and March 11, 65,741 passengers travelled by the AC local trains on the Central Railway local train network (HT PHOTO)

According to the statistics available with the Central Railway, AC local trains operating on the fast railway lines has received a better commuter response.

Between February 1 and March 11, 65,741 passengers travelled by the AC local trains on the Central Railway local train network, while 49,908 passengers travelled by AC local trains in January.

In comparison, the AC local train services on the Western Railway that was introduced in 2017 see nearly 8,000 passengers every day on average between Churchgate and Virar railway stations.

In 2019, before the coronavirus pandemic, nearly 15,000 passengers travelled by AC local trains on the Western Railway every day.

The railways, while calculating the number of passengers who travelled by season pass per ticket, calculated it as 50. The number is calculated by taking the total number of journeys (50 journeys in one month) that will be made by one passenger.

34 new local train services were introduced on February 19 on the Central Railway mainline between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus-Kalyan-Karjat-Kasara-Badlapur and Titwala railways stations. To introduce the AC train services on the mainline, the CR discontinued 16 AC local services from the Harbour Railway.

“As Summer has arrived in Mumbai, we are seeing that the number of passengers in AC local trains has increased. We are anticipating the number to increase further in the coming days,” said a senior Central Railway official.

However, passenger associations have demanded an immediate reduction in the fares of AC local trains or the complete discontinuation of the AC local trains.

“There is no point in increasing the number of AC trains when the fares are not reduced. We are receiving complaints from passengers every day. Why start the new railway line and operate AC local trains but not reduce the fare. The fare structure should be revised immediately or the railways should pull back the AC local train,” said Rekha Dedhia, member of the Kalyan-Karjat Railway Pravasi Mahasangh.

Meanwhile, recently a water leakage from the vents inside an AC local train compartment was also witnessed by passengers. Central Railway authorities had stated that the water leakage occurred due to choking of the AC vents.