Mumbai Local News: AC trains record 1.5 crore passenger footfall from January to May

Mumbai division of Central Railway (CR) has recorded a sharp rise in the passenger occupancy in air-conditioned (AC) local train between January 26 and May 20 compared to the corresponding period last year.

This highlights the growing preference and demand for AC local trains in Mumbai especially during summer seasons.

According to data revealed by CR, the average occupancy in AC local trains stood at 1,664 passengers per service during the period in 2026, compared to 1,474 passengers per service in 2025. This marks a 12.9 per cent increase in average passenger footfall per service.

The total number of passengers carried during the period increased to 1.50 crore in 2026 from 1 crore in 2025, reflecting a 50 per cent rise. Daily average revenue also increased to Rs 56 lakh in 2026 from Rs 38.50 lakh in 2025, while total revenue touched Rs 64.40 crore against Rs 44.27 crore during the corresponding period last year.

Railway officials said that sustained occupancy was witnessed across all months of 2026, particularly during March and May.

The increase in occupancy came alongside a substantial rise in the number of services operated. Central Railway ran 8,991 AC local services between January 26 and May 20, 2026, up 31.6 per cent from 6,834 services during the same period in 2025.

The railway said the addition of new services and expansion to new sections had received a positive response from commuters seeking safe, fast and comfortable travel.

As a result, the average daily passenger count rose from 87,596 in 2025 to 1,30,075 in 2026, registering a jump of 48.5 per cent. Passenger load per service also improved from 1,474 in 2025 to 1,664 in 2026, indicating higher occupancy despite the increase in services.

Central Railway increased AC local services from 66 to 80 on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)-Kalyan/Badlapur/Titwala Main Line in May 2025. Following the introduction of AC local services on the CSMT-Panvel section from January 26, 2026, the total number of AC local services rose to 94. A further addition of 14 services from May 2026 increased the total number of AC local services on Central Railway to 108.