12-coach trains likely on harbour line from April 21

According to sources, railway minister Suresh Prabhu may flag off these trains as he will be in the city on the day

The Central Railway (CR) is likely to introduce 12-coach trains on the Harbour line from April 21.

The CR will replace these with 12-coach trains in the next few months. This conversion will increase each train’s passenger carrying capacity by 33%. (Praful Gangurde)

According to sources, railway minister Suresh Prabhu may flag off these trains as he will be in the city on the day to highlight trespassing control measures at Kanjurmarg and also participate in a function to mark 100 years of the Matunga carshed.

Railway authorities planned safety trials by running an empty 12-coach train on the Harbour line after Tuesday midnight, to ensure there are no glitches.

Confirming this development, CR chief spokesperson Narendra Patil said, “The late-night trial of the 12-coach train on the Harbour line will begin after the departure of the last train.”

Currently, nine-coach trains run 590 services on the Harbour line every day.

The CR will replace these with 12-coach trains in the next few months. This conversion will increase each train’s passenger carrying capacity by 33%.

The railway authorities have almost completed the work of extending platforms on the harbour line at the stations.

The project to better the services on the Harbour line is part of the Rs714-crore project under the second phase of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP).

The project that started in 2012 was to be completed before the end of 2014, but has been delayed owing to various reasons.