238 New AC Local Trains Promise Big Relief! But Fare Concerns Remind Mumbaikars Of Harbour Line Fate

Centre has approved procurement of 238 new AC local trains for Mumbai to enhance the city's overcrowded suburban rail network. The move comes after prolonged political debates and commuter demands.

The introduction of more AC trains is expected to solve the problem of overcrowding.

Source : PTI

Mumbai commuters are set to benefit from a major boost to the city's suburban railway system, with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announcing the approval of 238 new air-conditioned (AC) local trains. The decision, revealed in Parliament, follows discussions with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the need to improve Mumbai's heavily congested local train services.

"I was in Maharashtra, and during discussions with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on improving Mumbai’s local trains, this topic came up. We are glad to announce that the procurement of 238 new local trains for Mumbai has been finally approved,” Vaishnaw said while addressing concerns raised by Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad in Parliament.

A Long-Awaited Upgrade

The move aims to modernise Mumbai’s suburban railway network, which has long suffered from severe overcrowding. Currently, 109 AC local trains operate on the Western Railway and Central Railway lines, providing 65 services daily. The new additions are expected to ease congestion, offering a more comfortable travel experience for daily commuters.

This initiative is part of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) 3 and 3A, jointly funded by the central and state governments. According to a report by Mid-Day, the Ministry of Railways had initially issued a directive in May 2023, instructing the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) to place orders for the procurement of 238 Vande Metro suburban trains. However, the tender process initiated in June 2023 was abruptly scrapped the following month for unexplained reasons.

Political Roadblocks And Opposition

The plan to introduce AC trains across Mumbai’s railway network faced opposition in August 2022, when Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar called for a complete withdrawal of AC trains and the restoration of non-AC compartments for working-class commuters.

Railway Minister Vaishnaw, addressing this opposition in September 2024, remarked to Mid-Day that Mumbaikars needed to form a consensus to push the plan forward. However, NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto later clarified that their opposition was primarily to the high fare structure of AC trains rather than the concept itself.

Central Railway had introduced its first AC local train on the Trans-Harbour line — linking Thane and Panvel — on January 30, 2020. However, the service was later discontinued due to low passenger demand. In December 2021, at least 12 AC local trains were introduced on the Harbour Line but those setvices also had to be withdrawn a few months later because demand did not pick up even after the fares were slashed.

Commuter Reactions And Fare Concerns

The announcement has received a mixed response from Mumbaikars. While commuter associations have welcomed the addition of new AC trains, many raised concerns over the affordability of fares.

An X user posted that "the fares need to be looked at", adding that it was otherwise a "brilliant decision" as "lots of lives will be saved".

"I think they should reduce fares. As it is railways is subsidising passenger fares across the country… this will be small percentage of that," wrote another user, while yet another posted: "Fares will be the key factor here. Currently it is ₹5/10 km as the base slab. For AC local they should charge ₹5/5 km so that the base ticket fare doesn't change just distance covered is reduced. Indirect hike is the only way to avoid protest from commuter groups."

Welcoming the move, economist and author Sanjeev Sanyal emphasised that modernising Mumbai’s local trains will benefit society across economic classes.

"Finally, Mumbai local trains will be converted to AC. About time. Money was never the problem; this should have happened years ago but every upgrade in India is stalled by someone who will argue that it will adversely impact the poor. Remember when mobile telephony was introduced, same type of people said that we should first fix land-lines, that it would create a 'digital divide' and so on. Who will benefit most from local trains being better? The middle class & the poor. The billionaires are cruising in their luxury cars anyway,” he remarked on social media.

Finally Mumbal local trains will be converted to AC. About time. Money was never the problem; this should have happened years ago but every upgrade in India is stalled by someone who will argue that it will adversely impact the poor. Remember when mobile telephony was introduced,… pic.twitter.com/LTPsXMfH7u

— Sanjeev Sanyal (@sanjeevsanyal) March 20, 2025

Future Of Mumbai Local Trains

The Mumbai AC local train service was first introduced on December 25, 2017, on the Western Railway network. In its first five months, approximately 5 lakh passengers used the service, with numbers surging in summer months due to increased demand. While AC locals have gained popularity, the transition from non-AC to AC services has been gradual, with challenges related to pricing and commuter preferences.

With the approval of these 238 new AC local trains, authorities hope to provide a more efficient and comfortable travel experience while addressing long-standing concerns regarding affordability. The next step will be finalising tenders and ironing out fare structures to ensure that the new AC trains cater to both convenience and cost-effectiveness for Mumbai’s daily commuters.

Will AC Local Trains Make Travel Safer?

As pointed out by social media users, the introduction of 238 new AC local trains for Mumbai could potentially reduce incidents of commuters falling off overcrowded trains. 

AC trains are typically designed with automatic closing doors, which could prevent commuters from falling off trains during peak hours. 

The addition of new AC trains is expected to increase train frequency and capacity, potentially easing overcrowding on Mumbai’s suburban rail network. Overcrowding is a primary reason commuters fall — while boarding, de-boarding, or travelling on footboards or rooftops. If these new trains can handle more passengers and reduce the pressure on existing non-AC locals, fewer people might be forced into dangerous situations.

If international metro traffic standards are incorporated, the train may include better ergonomics, safer interiors, and infrastructure improvements that could lower accident risks.

However, a few challenges and limitations remain.

If the fares remain unaffordable, they might continue to use non-AC trains, and the problem of overcrowding won't solve. 

Also, the plan to procure 238 new trains will take time. Until the rollout is complete and the network adapts, overcrowding on existing non-AC trains could persist. 

Even with AC trains, accidents could still occur if infrastructure (platforms, signals etc) isn’t upgraded or if commuter behaviour (rushing to board overcrowded trains) doesn’t change. Stone-pelting by nefarious elements along the train route, as seen with Harbour Line AC trains and elsewhere in the country, will also be a challenge.