The Mumbai division of Western Railway plans to start running 24 more 15-coach services on the slow corridor from March 2021 on its suburban networks.
The number of passengers travelling on the Andheri to Virar route of the Western Railway has been increased in the last few years.
Moreover, considering a rise in coronavirus cases since the past few days the railways have decided to start the services soon to reduce crowding in trains. Later, WR plans to run a total of 146 15-car services. The work of extending the length of 31 platforms was carried out for two years on the slow corridor of 14 stations.
WR officials said that the introduction of more 15-car rakes will reduce the commuter load in the Andheri-Virar belt and increase the carrying capacity by 25 per cent per rake.
Currently, the WR operates 54 services, with four 15-coach trains between Churchgate and Virar on the fast corridor, but only 12-coach services on the slow corridor.
In 2009, WR had introduced 15-car services between Dadar and Virar. Later, on January 28, 2011, it extended the services till Churchgate after extending platforms 3 and 4. The 15-car trains, however, do not halt between Dadar and Churchgate due to the shorter length of platforms.
Similarly, it is not feasible to run 15-car rakes on the slow corridor from Andheri towards south Mumbai owing to lack of space at the stations to extend the platforms, said railway official. However, even if WR does run 15-car rakes, it will have to provide double halts at stations, which is not feasible as it affects train punctuality, official added.
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