Updated On: 08 December, 2023 05:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. Aklekar
Consultant’s first interim report suggests phase-wise introduction of air-conditioned trains, starting with the fast corridor in around 18 months from now and will continue over ten years

Commuters inside an AC train at CSMT. File Pic/Ashish Raje
It’s official. Here’s how to upgrade all Mumbai locals into AC trains! A railway consultant has proposed a phased plan to transition Mumbai’s regular local trains into AC ones. The strategy spans four phases over 18 months to nearly a decade, prioritising fast corridors initially before migrating to slower ones. For Mumbai locals, there’s a long-term plan to upgrade the entire fleet of Mumbai local trains into AC trains. Among these, 238 Mumbai-customised AC local trains—47 under MUTP-3 and 191 under MUTP-3A—are awaiting approvals.
These trains boast inbuilt infotainment, improved CCTV systems, and enhanced acceleration. To navigate this transition with minimal commuter disruption, the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) appointed Systra as consultant. An official mentioned, “The objective is to develop an efficient migration strategy from non-AC to AC trains while causing the least inconvenience to commuters.”