47 more 12-coach trains

The Western Railway (WR) has converted 47 services from nine-coach to 12-coach services on the suburban section. Of this,the Churchgate-Borivali section would benefit the most as 27 services on this route have been converted. The Churchgate-Andheri-Churchgate would be increased by 15 followed by two on the Churchgate-Bandra and Churchgate-Malad-Churchgate section.

Converting the rakes to 12-coach increases the carrying capacity of trains by 33 per cent. This move is expected to benefit 60,000 commuters everyday. The WR runs 1,210 services daily with 798 12-coach services,400 nine-coach services and 12 15-coach services. Interestingly,in the existing scenario,the WR cannot increase the train services as it is already running trains with a frequency of three minutes. To reduce the load,it can only convert the trains from to 12-coach and introduce more 15-coach trains.

Early this month,the CR,too,had converted services especially on the harbour line. It also converted 18 services to 12-coach on the trans-harbour link (Thane-Vashi section).