Railways promise 700 more local trains, double express services for Mumbai

Following an onground assessment of all the ongoing projects in Mumbai the Railways has promised 700 additional suburban services and the doubling of express trains for Mumbai in the next three to five years The assessments are a part of the larger plan for 48 major cities which includes planned proposed or already sanctioned works to achieve the goal of doubling trainhandling capacity in a timebound mannerHimanshu Vartak Palghar passenger activist right Shailesh Goyal Former member of the National Railway Users Consultative Committee PICSBY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTWhile the Central Railway CR has identified Mumbai Pune and Nagpur the Western Railway WR has identified six major cities including Mumbai Surat Vadodara Ahmedabad Ujjain and Indore for its expansion of services ldquoWersquore expanding coaching terminals in key cities to meet rising passenger demand and reduce congestion This move will upgrade the railway network and significantly improve nationwide connectivityrdquo Ashwini Vaishnaw minister for railways saidThe works for doubling the originating capacity by 2030 would include upgrading the current terminals with additional platforms stabling lines pit lines and adequate shunting facilities identifying and creating new terminals in and around the urban area maintenance facilities including mega coaching complexes and increasing the sectional capacity with traffic facility works signalling upgrades and multitracking required for handling increased trains at various pointsMansoor Umer Darvesh secretary Passenger and Traffic Relief AssociationWhile planning for increasing the capacity of terminals stations around terminals will also be considered so that capacity is evenly balanced The above exercise will be done for both suburban and nonsuburban traffic keeping in view the distinct requirements of both segmentsVoicesHimanshu Vartak Palghar passenger activistldquoAfter commissioning the 5th and 6th line work between Borivli and Kandivli all express trains should be transferred to those lines vacating paths forsuburban trainsrdquoMansoor Umer Darvesh Secretary of Passenger and Traffic Relief AssociationldquoI am very thankful to the railway authorities for giving us such a New Year gift in planning but it should be completed within the given deadlinesrdquoShailesh Goyal Former member of National Railway Users Consultative CommitteeldquoGiven the railway lines the geographical situation makes it very difficult to extend the platform as well as build more lines for commencing new servicesrdquoCentral Railway plansSuburban trainsCR operates 1820 suburban train services dailyIncrease in capacity will result in 584 extra servicesWhat is happeningPlatform extension to accommodate 15 coach trains at 34 stations for the CSMT Kalyan fast corridorgtgt What will it lead to Increased 2537 capacitygtgt Deadline Early 2026ParelKurla 5th and 6th line with deck at Kurla for harbour line and 5th and 6th linegtgt What will it lead to Dedicated suburban train corridor between ParelKalyan and beyondgtgt Deadline In phases very slow work at zonal level KalyanKasara 3rd and 4th line and KalyanKarjat 3rd amp 4th linegtgt What will it lead to Dedicated express train corridor beyond Kalyan making space for suburban trainsgtgt Deadline Phase 1 late 2026PanvelKarjat projectgtgt What will it lead to New suburban corridor connectivitygtgt Deadline 2026Ongoing Kalyan yard remodelinggtgt What will it lead to Segregation of rail traffic Local train paths will improvegtgt Deadline March 2027Express trains CR currently handles 82 originating trains Mail Express in Mumbai The increase in capacity will result in additional 68 trains 30 primarymaintained and 38 platformreturn trainsWhat is happeningPanvelKalamboli projectgtgt What will it lead to 5 platforms 4 pit lines 6 the linesgtgt Deadline March 2027Kalyan Terminusgtgt What will it lead to 6 Platforms 7 other linesDeadline March 2027Parel Terminusgtgt What will it lead to 6 Platforms Multiple linesgtgt Deadline Not specifiedKurla LTTgtgt What will it lead to 4 Platforms Multiple linesgtgt Deadline Project under processWestern Railway plansSuburban trains At present Western Railway runs 1406 suburban services daily through 116 rakes maintained at three car sheds With completion of infrastructure upgradation works it is planned to run additional 165 suburban servicesWhat is happeningMumbai CentralBorivli 6th linegtgt What will it lead to Clear path for suburban trainsDeadline Not specifiedBorivli ndash Virar 5th and 6th linesgtgt What will it lead to Segregation for suburban trainsgtgt Deadline December 2027VirarDahanu 3rd and 4th linegtgt What will it lead to More paths beyond Virargtgt Deadline March 202815car trains BanAndherigtgt What will it lead to 2537 more capacitygtgt Deadline 2026GoregaonBorivali harbour linegtgt What will it lead to More harbour line localsgtgt Deadline March 2028Express train plans WR currently handles44 longdistance trains from Mumbai area and with these infrastructure works it plans to introduce65 more longdistance trains The corridors will also enhance express train capacityWhat is happeningNaigaonndashJuichandra double chord linegtgt What will it lead to Mumbai Central trains to KRgtgt Deadline Not specifiedNew terminus for express trains at Jogeshwari with three platforms In phase 2 two more platforms and two pit lines are plannedgtgt What will it lead to Increase in number of express trainsgtgt Deadline 2026New Vasai Road terminus for express trains with two platforms In phase 2 a coaching terminal with a pit line is also plannedgtgt What will it lead to Increase in number of express trainsgtgt Deadline Dec 2027One more platform at Dadar Terminusgtgt What will it lead to Increased services from Dadargtgt Deadline December 2027More lines At Mumbai Central the existing sick line is being extended for integrated maintenance At Bandra Terminus three new Pit lines have been commissioned Extension of platform 5 at Mumbai Central for 24 coaches amp two new pit linesgtgt What will it lead to Increase in number of express trainsgtgt Deadline Dec 2027