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Mumbai's local railway department, Central Railway (CR), is bringing back air-conditioned (AC) train services on the Harbour Line, a busy commuter route in the city, starting January 26, i.e., Republic Day.
Introduction of New AC Trains
Earlier, AC trains were tested on parts of this line in 2021 and 2022, but they were discarded because not enough people used them. Despite that, CR has decided to reintroduce 14 AC trains on the Harbour Line by replacing some existing non-AC local train services rather than adding new ones. Under the new schedule, seven AC trains will run in each direction, towards Panvel and towards CSMT/Wadala stations. The first AC train of the day is set to leave Vashi early in the morning, and there will be services during peak office hours as well.
Commuters' Opinions
However, many daily commuters who use non-AC trains are unhappy with this change. They say they wanted AC services to be added along with the current trains, not to replace them. They fear the number of regular, affordable non-AC trains will go down. Most people on this line travel in cheaper second-class coaches, and they worry that reducing non-AC options will hurt those who can't afford AC fares.
Commuters are also calling for lower fares and better planning instead of swapping one service for another. Some suggest improvements like building extra tracks before introducing more premium trains, so that people who rely on regular locals don't lose out.
While AC trains may offer more comfort, many local passengers are concerned that this change will make daily travel harder for those who depend on affordable non-AC services.
