Western Railway Plans Major Capacity Expansion To Nearly Double Train Handling By 2030

In a major boost to rail infrastructure, Western Railway (WR) has announced an ambitious plan to nearly double its train handling capacity by 2030, with a strong focus on Mumbai and five other key cities — Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Ujjain and Indore. The move comes in response to steadily rising passenger demand and growing pressure on existing rail infrastructure.

The expansion forms part of a national capacity enhancement programme covering 48 major cities across India, aimed at improving punctuality, reducing congestion and enhancing overall passenger experience.

Phased Infrastructure Push Across Six Cities

Western Railway has identified six high-traffic cities under its jurisdiction for phased infrastructure augmentation. The plan includes a combination of terminal expansion, development of maintenance and stabling facilities, signalling upgrades, multitracking projects and the creation of new terminals in urban and suburban areas.

Officials said these measures will allow smoother train operations, better turnaround times and improved reliability for both suburban and long-distance services.

Mumbai At The Centre Of Expansion Plans

Mumbai, the country’s busiest rail hub, is at the heart of WR’s capacity expansion roadmap. Currently, Western Railway operates 44 long-distance trains from the Mumbai region. With the completion of ongoing and planned projects, the zone intends to introduce around 65 additional long-distance services, significantly expanding connectivity from the financial capital.

Passenger comfort is also being addressed, with plans to add nearly 70 extra coaches per day to existing trains, helping ease overcrowding on long-distance routes.

Rs 6,857 Crore Investment On Mumbai–Dahanu Corridor

To support this growth, Western Railway is implementing multiple line capacity enhancement projects worth ₹6,857 crore on the Mumbai Central–Dahanu Road section, one of the busiest stretches on the network.

A flagship project under this plan is the Mumbai Central–Borivali 6th line being developed under MUTP-II at a cost of ₹919 crore. Phase I of the project, covering the Khar–Kandivali stretch, has already been commissioned. The remaining Kandivali–Borivali section is in its final stages and is expected to be completed by January 2026.

Once operational, Bandra Terminus-bound trains will get two dedicated lines, enabling better segregation of suburban and mainline traffic and unlocking capacity for additional long-distance services.

Multi-Tracking Projects To Reduce Congestion

Several other high-value multitracking projects are progressing at a fast pace. These include the Borivali–Virar 5th and 6th lines costing ₹2,184 crore and the Virar–Dahanu Road 3rd and 4th lines with an investment of ₹3,578 crore.

These projects will substantially increase sectional capacity on some of Western Railway’s most congested corridors, creating space for more trains and improving punctuality for existing services.

Direct Konkan Connectivity Via New Chord Line

Another critical project is the Naigaon–Juichandra double chord line, being built at a cost of ₹176 crore. Once completed, it will allow direct connectivity to the Konkan Railway without the need for locomotive reversal at Vasai Road.

This will pave the way for new services towards Konkan, Goa and southern destinations, while also reducing travel time for passengers from Mumbai’s western suburbs.

Boost To Mumbai Suburban Train Services

At present, Western Railway runs 1,406 suburban services daily using 116 rakes maintained at three car sheds. Completion of the ongoing multitracking projects will enable complete segregation of suburban and mainline traffic, releasing significant additional capacity for local trains.

WR has confirmed plans to introduce 165 additional suburban services once key projects are completed. Further gains are expected through the extension of the Harbour Line from Goregaon to Borivali, platform lengthening on the Bandra–Andheri section to accommodate 15-car trains, and other supporting infrastructure upgrades.

Time-Bound, Phased Execution

Western Railway’s expansion programme is being rolled out through immediate, short-term and long-term action plans, each with defined timelines. While the overall objective is to double train handling capacity by 2030, officials said passengers will start experiencing benefits well before that as projects are commissioned in phases.

Once completed, the expansion is expected to transform rail travel across Mumbai and western India, offering smoother operations, higher capacity and a far better travel experience for millions of daily commuters.