In less than five months of its introduction, Mumbai's first ever AC local has ferried 10 lakh commuters.
It will take at least three years before Mumbai gets local trains with a combination of AC and non-AC coaches. The rail authorities will merge the two systems only when the existing AC locals attract more passengers. In less than five months of its introduction, Mumbai's first ever AC local has ferried 10 lakh commuters.
"The idea of running a local train with both AC and non-AC coaches is in the second phase. We will first analyse the demand for the full-AC locals that are already plying. It will take at least three years before this system of combining AC and non-AC local would be operational," said a senior official from the Indian Railways.
As per plans, in the near future, the coach composition would be 6 coaches each of AC and non-AC. All the coaches will draw power from the overhead cables supplying 25,000 volts electricity. Sources said that at present they are relying on getting the additional nine AC rakes that are being manufactured at a cost of Rs 55 crore each.
"Apart from these nine AC rakes, we will soon place order for three more. This will take the total number of AC rakes to 13," said Ravindra Gupta, Member (Rolling Stock), Railway Board.
The railway authorities are happy with the growing demand for AC locals. They are anicipating more passengers to avail AC locals once there are more such trains. In the past three months, there has been a growth in the number of AC local commuters. In February, 2.28 lakh passengers travelled by the AC train. In March the number went up to 3.13 lakh and in April it was 3.54 lakh.
The WR also conducted a comparative survey that has revealed that the 7.49 pm AC local from Churchgate to Virar is the most popular and ferries an average of 11,918 commuters. The second local which carries the maximum number of people is the 10.22 am local between Virar and Churchgate ferrying 6,498 commuters on an average.
ALL ABOUT THE COOL RIDE
- 1Number of AC locals running right now
- 9 Additional number of AC locals that will start plying by September or October
- 3 Extra AC locals, order for which will be placed soon
- 10 lakh Number of commuters that the AC local has ferried\
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- 5000 Carrying capacity of an AC local
- 1500 Avg number of commuters travelling by each AC local
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 "AC Local Train")
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