WR cancels AC train services on Friday without notice, upsets Mumbai commuters

Hundreds of commuters on the Western Railway (WR) were left fuming when it decided to cancel the air-conditioned local train services suddenly on Friday, without prior notice.

Angry commuters complained to the media, to whom the WR clarified that the AC train services were cancelled on Friday for maintenance and testing.

Authorities said the AC train was replaced with a non-AC train. “The AC local services will resume on Monday,” said a WR spokesperson.

Every day hundreds of commuters travel on the AC local, whose fare is higher than even the first-class fare. Though the train has poor passenger patronage compared to non-AC locals, during the peak hours, a lot of commuters use the train.

WR introduced the first AC local in Mumbai six months ago, on December 25, 2017. It operates 12 AC services daily on the Chuchgate-Virar corridor, except on weekends.

Railway authorities have ordered nine more such trains for Mumbai, which are expected to arrive by March 2019. After that, WR may introduce mixed coaches, with either three or six AC coaches in each local; a feasibility study is being conducted.