WR puts brakes on new suburban services

The announcement in the Railway Budget 2013-14 of introduction of 72 new suburban services for over 70lakh commuters is unlikely to be fulfilled by March 31, with Western Railway (WR) not planning to increase suburban services, despite the induction of two new rakes later this month.

The decision was taken after delays in suburban services on the western line in the past few months. In a timetabling simulation of WR, officers had found that the system was running beyond capacity. On April 16 2013, WR had introduced 20 suburban services. There are 1,305 services on WR and 1,618 on Central Railway (CR). WR is likely to replace two of its existing rakes, that run between Churchgate to Virar, with the new Bombardier rakes. “The two old rakes will be handed over to CR, which will utilise them for introducing 22 suburban services on its system by March 31,” said a CR officer.

priyal.dave@expressindia.com