Western Railway earns ₹40.03 crore from its first AC local train

The Western Railway currently operates 12 AC services, of which are eight fast services. On an average, approximately 18,000 commuters travel by the AC local everyday, with at least 1,500 in each service.

Train on western line at Virar railway station in Mumbai.

India’s first broad-gauge air conditioned (AC) local train completed two years on track this Wednesday, earning the Western Railway (WR) at least ₹40.03 crore, an official release stated here on Friday.

The first AC local, fitted with indigenous three- phase propulsion system of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, arrived here in May 2017, and after several safety trials, it was pressed into service on December 25, 2017.

On an average, approximately 18,000 commuters travel by the AC local everyday, with at least 1,500 in each service, the WR’s statement said.

“In the last two years, as many as 8,43,343 tickets were sold for the train, of which 6,62,565 were single-journey tickets and 1,80,778 were season tickets,” the release stated.

The first ever air-conditioned suburban local train parked at Kurla car shed in Mumbai.

Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, has built the train at the cost of ₹54 crores.

With a capacity to ferry 5,964 passengers, the AC train can can run at a speed of 110 kmph.

The train is equipped with Talk Back Facility at each doorway, which will enable passengers to communicate with the locopilot in case of emergency.

Unlike the regular EMU trains, these come with vestibule compartments. So a commuter can walk across the coaches.

The train does not have a separate first-class compartment, but two coaches have been reserved for women.

The view of mortorman cabin, which is also air-conditioned.

Though the train was delivered last year, the date of roll out is yet to be announced.

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The WR currently operates 12 AC services, of which eight fast services ply between Churchgate and Virar and three between Churchgate and Borivali, apart from a slow service from Mahalaxmi to Borivali.

The 12-coach AC local has state-of-the-art security features including automatic door closing, talk backand fire-fighting systems in every coach.

Till now, the city has received four AC locals, three for WR and one for the Central Railway.

At present, two locals are being plied for regular services, while the third one will be operational from early next year, a railway official said.

The CR received it’s first AC local early this month and it will be plied after some mandatory safety trials, he added.