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The replacement affected services on the busy Main line, leading to overcrowding and discomfort during peak hours.
Central Railway currently runs 80 AC local train trips every weekday on the Main line. (Image: Representative)
Central Railway (CR) faced heavy criticism on Tuesday after it replaced 12 air-conditioned (AC) local train services with regular non-AC trains on Mumbai’s busy Main line.
The sudden change left hundreds of daily passengers—many holding expensive AC season passes—struggling in overcrowded compartments, as per Free Press Journal.
Paying for Comfort, Getting Chaos
Regular commuter Rohit Jain from Thane voiced his frustration, saying, “What’s the point of buying an expensive AC pass if we’re repeatedly pushed into regular non-AC trains?” He added that such disruptions are now a routine, with no refunds or alternate arrangements offered by the railway authorities.
Inadequate Communication Adds to Anger
While the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) did issue a brief notice on social media platform X, commuters said it lacked a proper explanation and failed to offer any compensation or solution.
Rising Demand, Falling Standards
Central Railway currently runs 80 AC local train services on weekdays. According to official data, the popularity of these services has grown significantly, with ridership increasing from 2.09 crore in 2023 to 2.84 crore in 2024. The average daily AC ridership now stands at around 78,000.
Despite this growing demand, passengers claim that AC services are being cancelled or replaced far too often. The frequent disruptions raise serious concerns about maintenance and train scheduling.
Calls for Fair Refunds
Suhani Shah, a daily commuter from Dombivli, stressed the need for a fare-adjustment system. “When an AC train is replaced, passengers should automatically receive a refund for the fare difference,” she said. “This is not just about comfort—it’s about fairness and accountability.”
A Wake-Up Call for CR
Tuesday’s disruption has once again highlighted the gap between rising commuter expectations and service delivery. With AC ridership climbing, CR must ensure better planning, clearer communication, and a system of fair compensation to regain public trust.
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c…Read More
Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: ‘Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.’ This motto c… Read More
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