Mumbai’s scorching heat translates to 20 lakh additional revenue for WR’s AC locals

The scorching heat of October has proved to be a boon for Western Railway’s Mumbai division, which has witnessed a surge in ticket sales and ridership of the city’s first air-conditioned local.

The AC local services, introduced in December 2017, run between Churchgate and Virar stations on WR’s suburban network.

“The single journey tickets and season tickets have show a 60 percent increase in the first 10 days of October when compared to the same period last month,” the WR official said.

In first 10 days of September, 9,283 journey tickets and season tickets were sold and 1.29 lakh passengers used the AC local, earning WR Rs 49.25 lakh, he said.

In the first 10 days of October this month, 14,921 journey tickets and season tickets were sold.

A total of 1.73 lakh passenger travelled on the AC local and it yielded WR an earning of Rs 69.51 lakh, he said.

“This a 60 percent rise in ticket sales and 42 percent increase in ridership and earnings,” the official said, adding that the jump is higher than the one seen during the peak summer months of May and June this year.

WR chief spokesperson Ravinder Bhakar said that the rise in ticket sales was a good sign and attributed it to the “October heat” and the train’s comfort and affordability.

Another official said that WR was planning to provide the AC local halts at Marine Lines, Charni Road and Grant Road stations from November 1 to increase ridership.

The train presently halts at Churchgate, Mumbai Central, Dadar, Bandra, Andheri, Borivali, Bhayander, Vasai and Virar stations.