Summary:
MUMBAI: The railways has decided to introduce 15-car local trains on the slow track between Andheri and Virar to increase the carrying capacity per train to serve some of Mumbai’s densest and fastest-growing suburbs. If 15-car services are run south of Andheri on the slow corridor, WR will have to provide double halts, which is not operationally feasible as that would result in a decrease of service frequency. “The work includes extending the length of platforms, besides shifting of signal poles and crossovers (spots where trains change tracks). Fifteen-car services are not possible south of Andheri, towards Churchgate, because of a lack of space to increase platform lengths, especially after Mumbai Central. At present, the Western Railway (WR) slow corridor has 12-car trains, and longer locals are run only on the fast corridor.“The decision has been taken looking at overcrowding in the extended suburbs; 15-car locals will help prevent casualties because of commuters falling of trains between Virar and Andheri,” said a WR official..