Cooler journey ahead: Railways to get 3 more AC locals for Mumbai

The decision comes after the AC local, introduced in December last year, got a positive response from commuters.

Your local train journey is set to get cooler with the railway ministry planning to procure three more air-conditioned (AC) rakes.

The first AC local train in Mumbai has received a positive feedback from commuters. (HT File)

The decision comes after the AC local, introduced in December last year, got a positive response from commuters. There has also been a demand for more services and halting the trains at other stations. The AC trains will be procured by December 2019 and will operate on both Western and Central Railway.

Just after introducing the AC local train on the fast local line on the Western Railway (WR), the railway ministry had already planned to induct nine more AC local trains and began their manufacturing.

Of the lot, the second AC local train will be arriving in the city by September, which will be added to the WR. Now, three more AC trains will be procured for Mumbai.

“Three more AC local trains for the suburban railway in Mumbai will be procured,” said Ravindra Gupta, member (rolling stock), Railway Board.

Recently, Union railway minister Piyush Goyal had announced that 70 local trains will be fitted with AC coaches. Ordinary coaches in the trains would be replaced with AC compartments. “The work on swapping coaches of the AC local trains with normal coaches will begin from this year. However, completion of the process will take up to three years,” said a senior Railway Board official.

The first AC local train has received a positive feedback from commuters and the ridership has crossed 10 lakh within five months of service.

In February, 2.28 lakh passengers travelled in the AC local. The number increased to 3.13 lakh in March and 3.54 lakh in April