Two harbour lines were running on DC while the mainlines of both Western Railway (WR) and CR were running on AC was leading to technological as well as maintenance problems.
The test-charging of electrical systems of Harbour as well as Transharbour lines from direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) carried out through the early hours of Sunday was successful, Central Railway (CR) authorities said in a press statement. The test-charging and its success now paves the way for Harbour and Transharbour lines to be at harmony with their Western and Central counterparts in terms of electrical traction.
The fact that these two harbour lines were running on DC while the mainlines of both Western Railway (WR) and CR were running on AC was leading to technological as well as maintenance problems. "The trains running on the harbour lines are primitive ones, for which extra spares had to be kept aside. Moreover, between King's Circle (under CR jurisdiction) and Mahim (under WR jurisdiction), the trains had to shift from DC to AC. Also, since DC rakes are no longer made by the railways, the fleet on the Harbour line is old. Obviously, the comfort level for the commuter is low when compared to the newer Bombardier rakes running on WR and Siemens rakes running on CR and WR," explained an official.
The successful test-charging is just the latest in a series of long-term infrastructural changes executed on the Harbour line in the past couple of months. Recently, CR and Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) managed to complete the three-day block at CST during which the Harbour line platforms were extended. Similar work at Wadala was also completed in February. It now means that the Harbour line is ready to run 12-coach trains against the 9-coach trains that run on its lines now.
The real test now, according to officials, would be to get the 12-coach rakes ready quickly for the Harbour line so that the advantages of a more powerful and energy-saving electrical system as well as longer platforms can be provided to the commuters. "The Harbour line is one of the fastest growing suburban networks in the country and it does not offer the best commute at the moment due to older, shorter trains. Hopefully, the next long-term gift for the Harbour line would be speedy work on a new high-speed elevated corridor between CST-Panvel announced in the railway budget," said the official.
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