AC local trains on Western Railway witness record ridership and revenue surge in Mumbai | Representational Image
Mumbai: The air-conditioned (AC) local trains running on Western Railway (WR) have emerged as a major revenue generator, earning nearly four times more per service compared to their non-air-conditioned counterparts.
According to data shared by WR, each AC EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) service generates an average revenue of Rs 47,863, whereas non-AC local train services earn just Rs 13,548 per service. This stark difference highlights the growing popularity and profitability of AC local trains among commuters in the Mumbai suburban network.
In the financial year 2024-25, approximately 4.65 crore passengers travelled by AC local trains of WR, contributing to a revenue of around Rs 215 crore. This marks a significant jump from the previous financial year (2023-24), during which 3.64 crore passengers travelled by AC services, earning Rs168 crore for the Mumbai Central division of WR.
The rising trend is also evident in the daily ridership figures. In March 2024, the average daily ridership of AC locals stood at 1,08,910. By March 2025, this number had surged to 1,63,265 — indicating the increasing preference for air-conditioned travel among Mumbai’s suburban commuters.
Western Railway currently operates 1,406 suburban services on weekdays, out of which 109 are AC local trains, while the remaining are non-AC.
“The increasing patronage of AC locals not only reflects changing commuter preferences but also underscores the importance of investing in modern and comfortable transit options. With the demand for AC locals on the rise, WR may consider further expansion of such services in the near future” said a senior officer of WR.
Not only have air-conditioned local trains seen a surge, but the overall revenue of Western Railway’s Mumbai Central Division has also reached its highest ever. The Division achieved its highest-ever commercial revenue in FY 2024-25, amounting to nearly Rs 4,485 crore, and recorded its best-ever earnings across multiple categories. Ashok Kumar Misra, General Manager of Western Railway, congratulated the team on achieving this milestone.
According to Vineet Abhishek, chief public relations officer of WR , the commercial performance of WR’s Mumbai Central Division has been remarkable, achieving record-breaking revenues, operational efficiencies and significant digital advancements. The division recorded its best ever revenue figures in Commercial, Passenger, Suburban, Non-Suburban, PRS, AC EMU Passengers & Revenue, Freight, Parking and Catering categories.
The Division also saw the highest revenue in the Passenger Revenue, registering over Rs 3782 Cr (Suburban and Non-Suburban), while also registering the best ever revenue in PRS segment. Continuing in this direction, the Division also saw its highest ever revenue in Freight category (approx. Rs 256 Cr). Mumbai Division also saw it’s best ever revenue from Pay & Park contracts (Rs 14 Cr), alongwith its contribution through catering stalls (more than Rs 16 Cr).
Vineet further added that the Division has successfully enhanced passenger convenience through digital ticketing, PRS modernization and improved crowd management strategies.
Additionally, infrastructure developments, new freight initiatives and station upgrades have strengthened the division’s position as a leader in railway operations. All the efforts made by the Division in various fields have led to sustained growth in revenue.
