WR's 15-car route to cover Mum Central, Dahisar, Naigaon

Over three years after its introduction, the world’s longest suburban local train - the lone 15-car Siemens train, which runs on the city’s western line - will have its route streamlined in the coming months.

A senior official said that the idea was to streamline the route of the only 15-car local which makes 12 trips every day, but, presently, does not cater to three stations - Mumbai Central, Dahisar and Naigaon - on its route, that other fast trains do.

“Considering the increase in the number of passengers using these stations, it is increasingly becoming critical to ensure that the 15-car train halts at these stations. For instance, during the peak hours, a halt of the 15-car train on the congested Mumbai Central platform will provide relief to a substantial number of commuters,” the official pointed out.

The 15-car train was first introduced in the year 2009. Initially, it plied between Dadar and Virar. After an infrastructure upgrade in early 2011, a revamped terminus ensured that the service began from Churchgate.

However, the train could not be halted at Mumbai Central, Dahisar and Naigaon, since these stations did not get the required platform extensions and other upgrades to the signalling and track equipment, which ensure that there is technical support to a train’s operations. The train presently halts at Dadar, Bandra, Andheri, Borivali, Mira Road, Bhayandar, Vasai Road, Nalasopara and Virar.

“The Dahisar station extension has recently been finished. For other stations, the work is at the tendering stage and should be concluded in less than six months. Once that happens, we can ensure the additional halts, and, more crucially, plan on inducting more 15-car trains in service once additional rakes also become available,” the official said.