Mumbai Local News: WR Adds Seats In Women Coaches Of All Non-AC Trains

In a welcoming news for women commuters in Mumbai local trains, the Western Railways (WR) has added 25 extra seats in ladies’ compartment in all non-air conditioned suburban local trains.

This development came days after the new timetable was implemented from October 1. Moreover, with this, women commuters can experience a more comfortable journey in local trains.

According to railway officials, the move is expected to provide women a little relief from overcrowding during peak hours.

The seating capacity was increased after assessing the demand from women commuters, official added.

In an official statement released by the WR PRO, 25 seats in a second-class compartment have been earmarked in the 11th coach from the Churchgate end (or 2nd coach from Virar end) by providing a partition. The facility came into force from October 8.

Western Railway have made provision of 25 extra seats for ladies in II class of suburban local trains.The provision has been made in 11th coach from churchgate end & 2nd coach from virar end by providing a partition at the south end of the coach just besides existing ladies coach

— DRM - Mumbai Central, WR (@drmbct) October 11, 2022

A senior WR official exclaimed that the ridership of female passengers is going to increase as more and more people are shunning work from home. The increase in the seating capacity also means that the carrying capacity will rise as well. It is estimated that there are five standees for each seat.

If reports are to be believed, in 2019, season ticket passengers totaled 64.6 crore, of whom 24.4% or 15.7 crore were women. In 2020, the percentage of women season ticket passengers rose to 26% out a total of 26.4 crore.

Besides, the seating capacity of a suburban local train for women has increased to 25.47 per cent from the earlier 23.32 per cent, as a train would previously have 273 seats for women of total 1,170 seats. After the modification, the number has risen to 298.

Starting this month, the WR has revised its suburban local train timetable and increased the number of services from 1,375 to 1,383, which includes 112 services on the Harbour Line arm of the Central Railways (CR).