The Western Railway’s Mumbai Central division has achieved a new record in the air-conditioned (AC) suburban train ridership, as it crossed the three-crore mark for the first time in the current financial year. According to the official data, the AC train ridership stood at 3.12 crore as of February 11, 2024, which is an increase of around 25% as compared to 2.32 crore recorded in the previous fiscal year.
The milestone becomes more prominent as it reflects the growing demand and popularity of the AC trains among the commuters, who prefer comfort and convenience over the regular trains. The Western Railway runs a total of 96 AC local trains out of the total 1,383 electric multiple-unit services on weekdays, covering the routes from Churchgate to Virar and beyond. The AC trains offer improved amenities, such as cushioned seats, LED lights, automatic doors, CCTV cameras, and mobile charging points, along with the cool comfort.
The AC train passengers, who mostly belong to the working class and the middle-income group, have expressed their satisfaction with the services and urged the railway authorities to increase the frequency and extend the routes of the AC trains, especially during the peak hours. Some of the regular AC train commuters also suggested that the railway should introduce monthly or quarterly passes for the AC trains, as the current ticketing system is based on single or return journey fares, which are relatively higher than the regular trains.
The Western Railway officials have welcomed the positive response from the commuters and assured that they are working on improving the AC train services in terms of availability, affordability, and accessibility. They also stated that they are planning to introduce more AC trains in the near future, as they have received four new AC rakes from the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. The officials also appealed to the commuters to follow the Covid-19 safety protocols, such as wearing masks, maintaining social distance, and using sanitizers, while travelling by the AC trains or any other mode of public transport.
