Passenger bodies want more AC trains

The rail passenger associations want the Railways to not only operate the AC local during peak hours, but also introduce more AC trains soon. With railways receiving timid response from commuters, the associations state that the best way to test its popularity would be to run the services during peak hours and make fares cheaper for commuters.

“The major factors affecting the AC local are the timing of its schedule, stoppages given, and finally, the pricing. The WR should ensure that they operate it during peak hours when the business community and executives working in corporate offices travel,” said Dr Rita Savla, founder, Radhee Foundation, a body that has been in the forefront of addressing rail accident deaths.

At present, the AC local has limited stops, which too can be addressed. The WR officials said that they are running one slow service in the morning that starts from Mahalaxmi till Borivali, which does not see much footfall.

“The Railways should get more AC rakes and introduce them soon. The authorities can then think of allowing First Class commuters to travel at the existing fares, as there are chances that more people will use the AC trains this way,” said Kailash Verma, general secretary, Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh.

The passenger associations want the WR authorities to revise the AC local timetable from April. On January 26 itself, CM Devendra Fadnavis in his speech at CSMT urged more people to take the AC local and ditch their cars.