15-car trains for Central Railway?

15-car trains for Central Railway?

Is the Central Railway planning to run 15-car trains on its network? The railway has recently extended the fast train platform's length at Byculla and there were plans to extend the length of fast train platforms at Vikhroli also. Officials, however, denied any such move. Stations like Dadar, Thane and Kalyan already have long platforms that can accommodate a 15-car train. While the Western Railway is running a 15-car train between Churchgate and Virar that halt at Dadar, Bandra, Andheri, Borivli, Mira Road, Bhayander, Vasai Road and Nalasopara stations, the Central Railway had then asked the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation to conduct a study for running 15-car trains. However, a decision had been then taken to keep 15-car trains on hold and convert all trains into 12-car first. The CR has now promised to complete converting all its trains on the main line into 12-car by September-end. A 15-car train will give 33% more capacity than a 12-car train and 66% more capacity than a nine-car train. Vidyadhar Malegaonkar, chief spokeperson of the CR, rubbished the claim on 15-car trains. "Our priority is to convert all trains to 12-car first. Moreover, running a 15-car train will face many technical issues such as a large number of crossovers at CST, rake links," he said. "We will also have to increase the capacity of platforms for mass dispersal of passengers." Officials said extension of platform at Byculla and other such works are a part of the routine upgrade.