Vashi: Even as media reports claimed start of AC local services on the Harbour Line, Central Railway has pooh-poohed the idea, claiming, “At present, no timeline finalised please.” 

Dr Swapnil Nila, CR’s chief public relations officer (CPRO), sidestepped pointed questions regarding the timeframe for the launch of AC services, asserting, “The AC locals on Harbour and Trans-Harbour Lines will be started soon.”

While the Western and Main Lines have successfully integrated AC locals into their daily schedules, Harbour Line services were halted due to a combination of low commuter turnout and public dissatisfaction.

AC local train services on the Harbour Line were introduced by Central Railway (CR) in December 2021. The services, running between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Panvel, offered commuters a more comfortable and modern travel experience. However, by April 2022, the average daily ridership had plummeted and stood at just 2,288 passengers.

In a bid to increase ridership, CR reduced ticket prices for AC locals by nearly 50 per cent in May 2022. As a result, ridership rose marginally to about 3,299 passengers per day, however, it was still far below the required levels for sustainable operation.

Low usage or ridership was not the reason alone. The decision to discontinue the Harbour Line's AC services was not only due to low usage but also as a result of strong opposition from local commuters. “There was citizen protest and dissatisfaction over the replacement of regular services with AC locals,” Dr Swapnil Nila, CR’s chief public relations officer (CPRO), informs.

Harbour Line commuters typically travel shorter distances and are more fare-sensitive. The higher ticket cost of AC locals made them less attractive to the average commuter. Many also felt that the introduction of AC trains reduced the number of regular services, leading to crowding and inconvenience.

The protests, combined with logistical challenges and the financial burden of operating underutilized AC trains, led to the official withdrawal of all 16 AC services on May 14, 2022. The rakes were subsequently reassigned to the Main Line, where demand was significantly higher.