The long-awaited AC train in Mumbai will finally start for passengers on the Christmas day. The trial runs have been completed. Railway authorities have offered a discount on the fair prices to attract passengers initially. For the initial six months, users will get discounts on weekly, fortnightly and monthly passes.
Currently, the monthly pass cost between Churchgate and Mumbai central costs ₹570. For the entire stretch from Churchgate to Virar will cost ₹2040. The discounted price is 1.2 times of the first class in normal local trains running in Mumbai currently.
The first ride of the new AC train will start from 10:30 AM on Monday, December 25th, 2017. Starting from Borivli, the train will have stopping stations at Andheri, Bandra, Dadar and Mumbai Central. The last stop will be Churchgate. For the first week, the authorities will run the train for only six times every day between Churchgate and Borivli stations.
To make passengers aware of the facilities and services, Western Railway officials will be on the trains until 29th December. These officials have taken a two-week training to help passengers with all the functions and features of the trains. The last trail run conducted on Sunday had these officials and authorities.
These trains will have first and last compartments reserved for women. In the second and second last compartments, 10 seats are reserved for senior citizens. Also, fourth and seventh coaches will have seats reserved for differently-abled passengers.
For the initial weeks, there will only be six services between Churchgate and Borivli stations. However, from the new year, there will be eight fast services between Churchgate and Virar, three fast services between Churchgate and Borivli, and one slow service between Mahalaxmi and Borivli. The train between Churchgate and Virar will halt at Mumbai Central, Dadar, Bandra, Andheri, Borivli, Bhayander and Vasai Road, and the train between Churchgate and Borivli will halt at Mumbai Central, Dadar, Bandra and Andheri.
Also, this train will operate only on weekdays starting from Monday to Thursday. It will not operate on Saturday and Sunday because of maintenance work.