Mumbai local trains get boost: 100 new rakes planned to replace old trains & ease crowding

Central and Western Railways have jointly requested 100 new local train rakes from the railway ministry to replace ageing trains and support increased services under ongoing Mumbai transport projects.

Many suburban trains have completed their working life. The new rakes are required to maintain safe, reliable, and efficient services for millions of daily commuters across CR and WR networks.

The proposed new rakes will support additional services created by ongoing upgrades. More trains are needed as new lines, corridors, and added routes increase train frequency across Mumbai.

Railway infrastructure projects covering 400.53 km are in progress across CR and WR. These include new corridors, additional lines, and upgrades, generating new train paths and requiring more rolling stock.

The ongoing projects under MUTP are estimated at ₹18,365 crore. Investments include constructing new tracks, expanding existing lines, and improving facilities, enabling better suburban train services.

MRVC has floated tenders for 238 AC rakes to improve comfort on long suburban routes. These modern trains are part of capacity enhancement but are not expected to enter service before 2030.

Since new AC rakes won’t be available until 2030, CR and WR require temporary rakes to meet rising passenger demand and maintain efficiency across suburban services.

CR operates 1,820 services with 138 standard 12-car rakes, 80 12-car AC rakes, 22 15-car rakes, and 36 additional rakes. Main, Harbour, Trans-Harbour, and Port lines utilize these rakes.

WR runs 1,406 services with 1,074 12-car, 121 12-car AC, and 211 15-car rakes. Planned expansion of 15-car trains will require a major increase in suburban rolling stock.

Both CR and WR plan to run more 15-car trains to meet growing passenger numbers. This will require additional rakes to maintain service reliability and handle peak-hour demand.