Conversion of trains from DC to AC may increase delays

From Monday, be prepared for more abrupt delays in local train services between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Andheri.

The conversion of the Western Railway’s (WR) electric network from Direct Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC) today is likely to hit commuters using the Central Railway’s (CR) local train services between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Andheri as one part of the line is DC and the other AC.

A senior CR official, on the condition of anonymity, said, “The conversion may benefit passengers commuting between Churchgate and Virar but, for those commuting between CST and Andheri, things are most likely to get worse as there aren’t enough trains which could run on both AC and DC networks in the CR’s fleet.” The official explained that presently, there are 14 AC-DC trains in service between CST-Andheri. Many times, when a train is scheduled for Andheri from CST and an AC-DC train is not available, the only thing that can be done is wait for it to arrive. This disrupts schedules.

This was not the case with the DC-run Bandra trains because the AC electric network existed beyond the station. Now, with the entire network converted from DC, all the stations from Bandra to Andheri will have AC current.

“This would mean that even Bandra-bound trains from CST will have to be AC-DC. Of the 160-odd daily services on the CST-Andheri stretch, about 80 had to be run for Bandra, which would run with relatively less disruptions as compared with the CST-Andheri trains. Now, even the CST-Bandra trains will suffer from abrupt disruptions,” said the official.

CR chief spokesperson, VA Malegaonkar, denied the possibility of delays. “We plan to ensure 100% punctuality with the improvement of supply of AC-DC rakes on the Harbour line. We have 16 rakes now,” he said.