According to Western Railways, in addition to other long-distance train coaches, they are building a new train maintenance facility that can handle Vande Bharat rakes. Before June, the next three pit lines at Bandra Terminus— built at a cost of ₹45 crore —will be put into service in stages. Thanks to this, Vande Bharat trains will run from Bandra Terminus.
Here’s How Vande Bharat Trains Will Run From Bandra Terminus
At the moment, Vande Bharat trains exclusively operate out of Mumbai Central. There are currently 23 trains operating at Bandra Terminus, including 18 whose principal maintenance is completed on-site. Nine more trains will be able to use the terminus after the three new pit lines are put into service.
In order to improve the infrastructure for long-distance trains, the Western Railway plans to build three more pit lines at Bandra Terminus, increasing its operational capacity. If necessary in the future, these pit lines can also be utilised for Vande Bharat train maintenance, according to an official. In order to maintain the Vande Bharat trains, plans are underway to upgrade these pit lines. Presently, Mumbai Central is home to the only maintenance facility for the Mumbai Central division’s cutting-edge Vande Bharat trains.
Western Railway To Launch 50 Long-Distance Trains
GM/WR Shri Ashok Kumar Misra conducted an inspection between Churchgate & Andheri stations over WR’s Mumbai suburban section today.
He emphasized on the commitment to maintaining high standards of service and safety in WR operations. pic.twitter.com/UsdMzELaIS
— Western Railway (@WesternRly) February 10, 2025
Western Railway (WR) has laid out a plan to launch more than 50 long-distance trains in an effort to cut down on people on waitlists. This plan would be made possible by constructing a new terminal at Jogeshwari, renovating the infrastructure at Bandra Terminus and Mumbai Central, and building a new one at Vasai. Within the next three to four years, Indian Railways hopes to achieve its ambitious aim of having no waitlists for confirmed tickets.
At Mumbai Central, WR is also starting a significant yard renovation that will enable platforms to be expanded to handle 24-coach trains rather than the existing 18- and 20-coach arrangements. By increasing the number of passengers per train, the extra coaches will contribute to a decrease in the number of people on waitlists.
The commissioning of the Jogeshwari terminal, which is anticipated to be operational by the end of this year, is another significant project. In addition to launching at least 12 additional long-distance trains from the new facility, WR intends to move a few services from Bandra Terminus and Mumbai Central to Jogeshwari. A new terminal in Vasai, where 12 long-distance trains can be run from two platforms, is also being developed by WR.
Cover Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons
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