Mumbai: Central Railway’s (CR) air-conditioned suburban services are set to cross the 100-trip mark with the induction of a new AC local rake expected by April-end. The additional rake will enable the railway to introduce around 12 to 14 more services between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Kalyan, taking the total number of AC trips on CR from the present 94 to over 100. Railway officials said the new rake is being manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai, and is likely to reach Mumbai in the last week of April. The expansion comes at a time when temperatures have begun rising sharply in the city, making travel in non-AC suburban trains uncomfortable. Since early March, the heat has intensified and commuters are increasingly opting for AC locals despite the higher fares. Currently, AC locals run on the CSMT–Kalyan section of the main line and on the harbour line between CSMT and Panvel. Central Railway has seven AC local rakes in its fleet, which together operate 94 services daily. With the arrival of the new rake, the number of trips will increase significantly during the summer months. However, regular commuters have pointed out that punctuality and better information are equally important. “Increasing the number of AC services is welcome, but many trains on the CSMT–Kalyan and CSMT–Panvel routes run late. If a service is cancelled, announcements should be made so passengers who have bought AC tickets do not suffer financial losses,” said Anil Salunkhe, a commuter from Thane who frequently travels by AC local.
