Along with this, the total number of AC local train services has increased from the current 96 to 109 during weekdays and 52 to 65 during weekends, WR Chief Spokesperson Vineet Abhishek said.
“The increasing popularity of AC local trains has prompted this move, aimed at de-crowding and enhancing passenger convenience. The new services will replace 13 existing non-AC 12-car services,” Abhishek said. , AC train services which were first started in 2017.
Inaugural The new rake started its first service at 12.34 pm and ran six upstream (towards Church Gate) and seven downstream (from Church Gate) sectors covering Mumbai, suburban district of Mumbai, Thane and Palghar. Will serve.
Of the 13 new services, six services will run from Churchgate to Virar and Bhaindar, others will connect Virar-Bandra, Bhindar-Andheri, Mahalakshmi-Borivali and Borivali-Bhaiendra.
According to WR officials, currently around 1.24 lakh passengers — about four per cent of WR’s 3.1 lakh daily ridership — prefer to travel in AC trains, which are proving to be a major revenue generator.
Seven AC racks are already in service, the latest becoming the eighth AC rack and adding to the total fleet of 111 racks, which includes 14 non-AC 15 coach racks and 74 normal 12 coach racks.
The new rack is manufactured by the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai and has recently been brought to Mumbai. It was kept at the Kandivali yards where it underwent some final checks and tests before entering the rigors of Mumbai’s suburban sector to offer a ‘cool crush’ to passengers.
Central Railway also runs several AC local trains from 2020, and the government plans to convert all suburban rakes to AC in the next few years.