Advertisement

Western Railway to start 15-coach trains on slow line in April

Currently, the WR operates 54 services, with four 15-coach trains between Churchgate and Virar on fast corridor, but only 12-coach services on the slow corridor. In 2009, WR had introduced 15-car services between Dadar and Virar.

Western Railway to start 15-coach trains on slow line in April
(Representational Image)
SHARES

The Mumbai division of Western Railway plans to start running 15-coach services on the slow corridor from April 2021. This can now be done as the INR 70 crores platform extension project between Andheri and Virar stations is near completion to accommodate longer trains.

Moreover, the railway officials plan to run about 24 more 15-car services in April on its suburban networks. It would require at least 42 more coaches to augment the 12-car trains into 15-car. “We have asked the railway board to provide more coaches,” said an official.

In order to reduce crowding in trains, the work of extending the length of 31 platforms was carried out on the slow corridor of 14 stations as WR’s plan is to run a total of 146 15-car services. 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.

RELATED TOPICS
Advertisement
MumbaiLive would like to send you latest news updates