Mumbai Local Train Update: Western Railway Short-Term Changes to Suburban ServiceWestern Railway Announces Temporary Changes to Mumbai Local Train Services from December 16 Western Railway Short-Term Changes to Suburban Services

Temporary Changes Announced for Mumbai’s Western Railway Suburban Local Train Services

On Monday, the Western Railway (WR) announced temporary changes to the suburban local train services in Mumbai, affecting several key routes. The changes, which will take effect from December 16, 2024, will impact passengers traveling on the Andheri-Virar, Bhayander-Nalasopara, and Churchgate-Nalasopara routes. The decision comes as part of WR’s ongoing efforts to manage train schedules and ensure the convenience of passengers.

Details of the Temporary Changes

In a post shared on social media, the Divisional Railway Manager of the Mumbai Division, Western Railway, outlined the specific adjustments to the suburban train services. The following changes will be implemented:

• Train No. 92019 (Andheri-Virar) will be short-terminated at Bhayander, meaning it will not continue to Virar.
• Train No. 90648 will now originate from Bhayander instead of Nalasopara, shifting its starting point to an earlier station along the route.
• Train Nos. 90208 (Bhayander-Churchgate) and 90249 (Churchgate-Nalasopara) will now operate with 15 coaches instead of the usual 12-coach configuration. This change is aimed at increasing the capacity of these trains to accommodate more passengers.

These adjustments will be in place temporarily, and passengers are advised to stay updated on any further changes.

Previous Suburban Timetable Changes by Western Railway

In addition to the recent adjustments, Western Railway had earlier announced a revised suburban train timetable, which came into effect on October 12, 2024. The new timetable was designed to improve passenger comfort and convenience, featuring several important changes. These changes included the introduction of new services, extensions of existing services, and an increase in the number of coaches on certain trains.

Key Features of the New Suburban Timetable

According to a press release issued by Vineet Abhishek, Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, the new timetable brought several significant updates to the suburban train system:

1. Introduction of New Services:
   • 12 new suburban services were introduced to cater to the growing demand and improve connectivity.
   • Six new services were added in the UP direction, including one fast service from Virar to Churchgate, two slow services from Dahanu Road to Virar, and additional slow services from Andheri, Goregaon, and Borivali to Churchgate.
   • Six new services were also introduced in the DOWN direction, with one fast service running from Churchgate to Nalasopara, two slow services from Churchgate to Goregaon, and more services from Virar to Dahanu Road.
2. Extension of Existing Services:
   • Several existing services were extended to improve the reach of key routes, including the extension of fast and slow services from Borivali, Virar, and Vasai Road to various destinations in the city.
   • Notably, the Virar-Andheri Fast Local train departing at 15:36 hrs was extended to Dadar, offering more convenience for passengers traveling from the western suburbs.
3. Increased Capacity with Longer Trains:
   • A significant change was the augmentation of 10 existing 12-car trains to 15-car services. This was done in response to the high volume of passengers and the need to increase the capacity of trains during peak hours. As a result, the total number of 15-car services on the Western Railway network increased from 199 to 209.

Detailed Changes for Extended Services

The extension of services, particularly in the UP and DOWN directions, was intended to address peak-hour congestion and improve the overall efficiency of the suburban train network.

• Upward Direction:
  • Borivali to Churchgate Fast Local: This service, which previously departed from Borivali at 10:36 hrs, was extended to depart from Bhayander at 10:21 hrs, reaching Churchgate at 11:24 hrs.
  • Virar to Andheri Fast Local: The train, which initially left Virar at 15:36 hrs, now continues all the way to Dadar, reaching there at 16:41 hrs.
  • Vasai Road to Churchgate Fast AC Local: Originally departing at 20:41 hrs from Vasai Road, this service now starts from Virar at 20:29 hrs and reaches Churchgate at 21:53 hrs.
• Downward Direction:
  • Churchgate to Borivali Fast Local: The service departing from Churchgate at 09:19 hrs was extended to Virar, arriving at Virar at 10:39 hrs.
  • Andheri to Virar Fast Local: The train, originally scheduled to depart from Andheri at 16:37 hrs, now starts from Dadar at 16:48 hrs, reaching Virar at 17:44 hrs.
  • Churchgate to Vasai Road Fast AC Local: This service was extended, departing Churchgate at 19:00 hrs and continuing on to Virar, where it arrives at 20:22 hrs.

These changes were implemented to better accommodate the growing number of passengers on the suburban railway network, especially during peak hours.

Also Read: http://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaGN72XJ3jurJAdTdU27

Conclusion

Western Railway’s ongoing timetable revisions and temporary changes to train services reflect the dynamic nature of the city’s transportation needs. While the latest adjustments are expected to alleviate some crowding issues, passengers are encouraged to stay informed about any further updates. The aim remains to improve efficiency, reduce congestion, and enhance the overall travel experience for Mumbai’s suburban commuters.

As always, passengers should check the latest announcements from Western Railway regarding any further service changes or updates to train schedules.

Table of Contents

• “Western Railway Announces Temporary Changes to Mumbai Local Train Services from December 16”