Central Railway to convert 12 Thane and Main Line local trains to AC services
Central Railway will convert 12 existing non-air-conditioned suburban local train services into air-conditioned services on its Main Line, which connects Thane and other key stations, starting Monday, June 29, 2026. The move comes as a response to the growing demand from commuters for more comfortable travel options, particularly during peak hours.
The conversion of these 12 services will not affect the overall suburban timetable. Because the air-conditioned trains will directly replace the existing non-air-conditioned services, the total number of weekday suburban services will remain unchanged at 1,820.
Following this transition, the total number of weekday air-conditioned suburban services operated by Central Railway will rise to 120. This includes an increase in Main Line air-conditioned services from 80 to 92. Meanwhile, the 28 air-conditioned services operating on the Harbour Line will remain unchanged.
The 12 newly converted trains will include six Up and six Down services. These services will connect key stations along the line, including CSMT, Thane, Kalyan, Kurla, Ghatkopar, and Titwala. Several of these trains are scheduled to operate during the morning and evening rush hours, giving daily commuters more air-conditioned options when passenger demand is at its highest.
Railway officials stated that these converted services will run as air-conditioned locals only from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays and notified public holidays, the same services will continue to operate with non-air-conditioned rakes. This arrangement is designed to maintain operational flexibility for the railway network.
The revised timetable is scheduled to come into effect on Monday, June 29, 2026. According to Central Railway, the decision reflects a focus on improving commuter comfort while maintaining the existing frequency of suburban services. With passenger preference for air-conditioned locals steadily increasing, the additional services are expected to ease crowding and encourage more commuters to opt for air-conditioned travel without disrupting the suburban network.
