Partial AC local not practical: Experts

75% of respondents in a survey favoured partial AC local with different combinations

Although 75 per cent of Mumbaikars want partial air-conditioned local with different combinations in the suburban section of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region but experts feel that introduction of partial air-conditioned local is not a practical solution.

“Urban transport cannot sustain the mix and match. If we have to run AC locals then all the trains should be AC like the Metro rails. The main issue in running air-conditioned trains on Mumbai suburban is that station dual time will increase, the journey will become slower and capacity will be reduced. Running a partially air-conditioned and partially open door local is a bad idea,” said Subodh Jain, a former top boss of CR.

“AC local serves a particular segment of customers where apart from air-conditioned comforts, reduced and convenient running time is equally important. If we reduce 6 or 9 cars from an air-conditioned local train and replace them with ordinary cars, customers of that segment will suffer. It will not give any significant advantage to non-AC commuters. For them, there are fast locals after a short interval and may be scheduling can be such that a non-AC fast local can follow an air-conditioned local. Secondly, from a maintenance point of view also, it will be nightmarish,” said AK Shrivastava, former principal chief operation manager of Western Railway.

Similarly, Sudhansu Mani, former General Manager of Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, also feels that operation of partial air-conditioned local in the suburban section of Mumbai is not practical. “Though running partial air-conditioned local with different combinations is technically feasible, it’s not a practical solution and also does not fulfil the aim of the introduction of AC local in the suburban section,” said Mani who was the top boss of ICF when several air-conditioned local coaches were built for the proposed partial air-conditioned local train operation in Mumbai.

Supporting Mani’s views, a senior railway official said, “The prime aim of the introduction of the air-conditioned local train is to increase the safety of passengers and curb the cases of commuters falling off local trains. The introduction of partial air-conditioned local will not fulfil that aim.

According to another senior railway officer, around 85 per cent of commuters are using second class coaches of local trains. Around 15 per cent of commuters are using first-class coaches of local trains. Hence, the introduction of partial air-conditioned local trains means providing safety to only selected commuters.

Asked about the results of the recently concluded survey regarding operation of air-conditioned local trains in MMR, an official said 75 per cent of respondents want the introduction of partial air-conditioned local with different combinations ie 9+3, 12+3 and 6 +6.

Around 37,000 Mumbaikars participated in a survey spread over two months. The railway authorities are compiling a report on the survey which will be handed over to the Railway Board for action.

Asked about the final outcome, a senior official said keeping in mind the future developments, the introduction of a full air-conditioned local is the perfect solution. “Hence on the basis of this survey, we are going to suggest to the Railway Board to demarcate the AC local I first and second classes, and fix the second class fare 1.4 to 1.5 times of the current fare. We are also going to convey to the Railways Board that 75 per cent of Mumbaikars want a partial air-conditioned local with
Asked about the demarcation of air-conditioned rake, an official said that 61 per cent of respondents want demarcation of AC local in two classes like normal local trains. However, 18 per cent of commuters opposed this idea while 21per cent did not comment on this.

Similarly, 47 per cent of the respondents are ready to pay 30 per cent more fare for the proposed second class air-conditioned travel. And 12 per cent of users are ready to pay 40 per cent more, 11 per cent of commuters are ready to pay 50 per cent more. Thirty per of the respondents did not comment.

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