Airconditioned Mumbai local trains likely to be launched by October this year

In what will be a major relief for commuters in Mumbai, the much-awaited air-conditioned Mumbai local trains, which was promised in the Railway Budget 2015, is likely be launched finally by October this year. [caption id=“attachment_2125333” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Mumbai local trains might get air-conditioned by October this year. PTI[/caption] “We expect the rakes to come in by September so that trials can commence in October,” The Times of India quoted Central Railway general manager SK Sood as saying. The report added that the rakes were supposed to arrive in April-May 2013 but Integral Coach Factory in Perumbur, the place where the rakes were supposed to be manufactured, was unable to finalise the design. The first such train will reportedly run between Churchgate and Virar. NDTV also reported that the most likely time slot for the services would be 8 am from Borivali and 6 pm from Churchgate to match the peak hour times. “We are considering running four services a day, two in the morning and two in the evening, though the exact timing needs to be decided,” NDTV quoted a senior railway official as saying. The report also said that the Railway Board in Delhi was finalising the tariffs for the airconditioned Mumbai local trains. The fares could be 10 percent higher than the current minimum fare for the first class compartment. “It’s a premium service so people wouldn’t mind paying more than that is charged for first class,” said a Western Railway official, according to NDTV. This, however, is not the first time that Mumbaikars were promised airconditioned locals. In fact, it is for the fourth time in a row Mumbai train travellers has been promised this train in a Rail Budget.