Mumbai : Central Railway (CR) is likely to introduce one more 15-coach train by October. The introduction of another three coaches is likely to reduce the burden on the existing 12 coaches of the train as commuters will then be spread out.
The train will be incorporated in to normal suburban services from October as part of the revised timetable for the suburban local. CR general manager SK Sood said, “There are coaches still operational on the suburban section that have passed their shelf life and are in bad shape, but are still being used. We are looking at reducing the crowd in these coaches by introducing some more coaches so that the crowd is staggered.”
At present, one 15-coach local is operational on the fast corridor. The railways are trying to work out if an additional 15-coach train should be introduced or an existing 12-coach local should be converted to one with 15 coaches.
An official from CR said, “One of the biggest benefits after introducing the 15-coach local will be to female commuters who will get an additional compartment.”
The conversion of a 12-coach train to a 15-coach one will only be possible after additional coaches are introduced on CR. CR is likely to get another 12-coach Siemens train from Western Railway (WR) after the fourth train was introduced in the suburban service under MUTP-II.
Iram Siddique