The Western line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway is an Indian public transit system serving Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Maharashtra. It consists of 37 stations from Dahanu Road to Churchgate. It is operated by Western Railways (WR). The entire line is at grade.

Trains are differentiated as slow and fast locals. Slow trains stop at all stations, while fast ones stop at main stations only and are preferable over longer distances. Trains usually start from and terminate at main stations. The section from Churchgate to Virar is a Quadruple track. An EMU car shed has been built between and which is the largest car shed in both India and Asia. A repair shop for EMUs is situated at . There are also EMU car sheds at Mumbai Central and . A new EMU car shed at has been proposed to support the growing number of local trains to Dahanu Road after the quadrupling project is finished.

History

Suburban service on what is now the Western line was offered by the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway, which began running steam trains in 1867.WR brings Dahanu closer to city today – Times Of India. Retrieved on 2013-07-16. Rakes operating on DC electricity were introduced on 5 January 1928. Leslie Wilson (politician), the then-Governor of Bombay inaugurated the line running between Colaba and Borivali at Mahalaxmi, in the presence of 700 invitees.Citizens inconvenienced by Western Railway mega block . Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com (2012-02-06). Retrieved on 2015-01-17.

When the section between Colaba and Borivali was electrified in 1928, two lines were electrified between Colaba and Grant Road and between Bandra and Borivali, while four lines were electrified between Grant Road and Bandra. Between Bandra and Borivali, two other non-electrified lines were used by steam locomotives hauling passenger and freight trains. In 1936, all four lines between Bandra and Borivali and two lines between Borivali to Virar were electrified, thus eliminating steam locomotives there.

The proposal to ply Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains between Dahanu and Churchgate was approved in the 2012–13 Railway Budget. In March 2013, 18 MEMU services ran between Virar and Dahanu daily.Churchgate-Dahanu train by month-end – Times Of India. Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com (2013-03-19). Retrieved on 2013-07-16.Churchgate-Dahanu trial run a success: WR – Mumbai – DNA . Dnaindia.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-16.

On 16 April 2013, the 160th anniversary of the Indian Railways,Churchgate-Dahanu local all set to roll from Tuesday – Mumbai – DNA . Dnaindia.com (2013-04-15). Retrieved on 2013-07-16. Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal inaugurated the first EMU service between Churchgate and Dahanu Road.Bansal launches train services on Dahanu-Churchgat . Zeenews.india.com (2013-04-16). Retrieved on 2013-07-16.Western Railway . Wr.indianrailways.gov.in. Retrieved on 2013-07-16. The first Churchgate-Dahanu local was flagged off around 10:47am and arrived at Churchgate at 1:44pm. Prior to the launch of this service, EMU services on WR only ran on the 60 km stretch between Churchgate and Virar.Dahanu-Churchgate local flagged off, enjoy seamless travel – Mumbai – DNA . Dnaindia.com. Retrieved on 2013-07-16.

The Western Line transported 127.94 crore passengers (1.28 billion) in the 2016-17 fiscal year. This is higher than the population of India according to the 2011 Census, which was recorded as 121.01 crores. During the same period, Western Railway sold 270.3 million tickets and 13.7 million season passes, earning a total revenue of from its suburban rail operations.

Timeline 1864: BB&CI train reaches Mumbai, runs between Grant Road and Ahmedabad 12 April 1867: Local service commences between Virar and Back Bay 1870: Churchgate station opened. 1873: Line extended to Colaba terminus January 1899: BB&CI Headquarters building completed 1928: First electric suburban train ran from Colaba to Borivali 1930: Colaba station closed, Churchgate becomes the new suburban Terminus 5 November 1951: BB&CI renamed Western Railway 3 March 1961: 9-coach suburban trains introduced 1972: Total no. of suburban services crossed 500 (501 trains) Churchgate - Mumbai central section became a four-track section. 1986: 12 coach service started on Dadar - Virar section 5 May 1992: World's first Ladies Special service introduced on WR 1992: Exclusive Accommodation for Senior Citizens introduced in suburban trains 1994: Coupon Validating Machines (CVMs) introduced on WR 2001: Introducing of First DC/AC 12 car suburban service 2002: Western Railway reorganised 2003: Train Management System (TMS) started on Mumbai Suburban 2003: Number of WR suburban services per day crossed 1000 2006: First Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) started over WR’s Mumbai suburban section 2007: Indian Railways' first Automated Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) introduced on WR Borivali - Virar section became a four-track section on 7 July. Inauguration was with a Millenium Rake by Yadav. First Siemens rake entered service on 12 November 2009: 15 car trains introduced 28 February 2010: Borivali - Virar slow line section charged with 25 KV AC (though fast lines have already been under AC traction). 2011: 15 car trains extended till Churchgate 2011: Vile Parle - Borivali section charged with 25 KV AC 4 February 2012: Last DC local train ran on WR 5 February 2012: Churchgate – Vile Parle section charged with 25 KV AC 20 November 2012: 9 car services phased out from Main Line 2013: Suburban EMU trains extended up to Dahanu Road 2013: 150th year of arrival of trains on Western lines in Mumbai 2014: Fixed denomination windows for speedy dispersal of Suburban tickets 2014: Mobile ticketing launched on Mumbai Suburban Section 2015: India’s first suburban train with closing doors (in first class ladies coach) started, First CCTV in ladies coach 2015: First Bombardier rake entered service on 18 March 2015: Coupon Validating Machines (CVMs) discontinued, Paperless tickets through mobile 2017: New Suburban Rake with indigenous electrics under Make in India introduced on WR 25 December 2017: India’s first Air-Conditioned suburban train introduced on WR 29 March 2018: Harbour Line Extended from Andheri to Goregaon 22 March 2020: Indian Railways suspends all its passenger trains operations including suburban operations due to COVID-19 pandemic lockdown 28 October 2021: WR’s Mumbai suburban local trains resume to Pre – COVID level services of 1367, i.e 100% services January 2024: Western Railway Headquarters Building at Churchgate completes 125 years 2024: Total no. of WR suburban services per day crossed 1400 (1406 services), Total no. of AC suburban services crosses 100 (109 services) 2024: Total no. of 15 coach suburban services crosses double century mark (213 services)

Stations

(Names in bold indicate that the station is a fast train stop.) Western Suburban lineStation NameStation CodeConnectionsEnglishMarathiचर्चगेट CH/CCG ‡मरीन लाइन्सMELNone‡चर्नी रोडCYRNone‡ग्रँट रोडGTR मुंबई सेंट्रल MMCT Indian Railways महालक्ष्मीMX Sant Gadgil Maharaj Chowkलोअर परळPLNoneप्रभादेवीPBHD † दादर D/DDR Indian Railways andमाटुंगा रोडMRU *माहिम जंक्शनMMवांद्रे B/BA Bandra Terminusखार रोडKHARसांताक्रुझSTCविलेपार्लेVLPअंधेरी A/ADH Indian Railways, and जोगेश्वरीJOS राम मंदिरRMARगोरेगाव GO/GMN मालाडM/MDDNoneकांदिवलीKILENoneबोरीवली BO/BVI Indian RailwaysदहिसरDICNoneमीरा रोडMIRANoneभाईंदर BY/BYR NoneनायगावNIGNoneवसई रोड BS/BSR Indian Railways and नालासोपाराNS/NSPNoneविरार V/VR Indian RailwaysवैतरणाVTNNoneसफाळेSAHNoneकेळवे रोडKLVNoneपालघर PLG Indian RailwaysउमरोळीUOINoneबोईसरBORNoneवाणगावVGNNoneडहाणू रोड DH/DRD Indian Railways ‡ indicates the stations which Fast Up trains (to Churchgate) skip from around 5PM to 8PM.Timetable of the Western line between 5PM and 8PM

;†A footbridge links Parel to Prabhadevi on the Western line. * A footbridge links Matunga to Matunga Road on the Western line, called Matunga Z bridge.

Churchgate railway station is the terminus railway station at the south end of Mumbai city. In Mumbai, Western Line (WR) suburban trains use this station as terminus. Long-distance trains and goods/oil tanker trains terminate at Mumbai Central railway station instead. Trains also going from Mumbai Central to other cities halt at Dadar (DDR), Andheri, Borivali, Vasai Road and Virar.

Above list of stations is mentioned from south end going towards northern suburban areas falling on WR corridor.

Electrification

Western Railway's EMU fleet consists of EMUs running on AC 25 kV power. WR uses seven 9-car rakes.

The Western line began running electric trains with DC power on 5 January 1928.

On 5 February 2012, WR finished converting the entire Western line from the earlier used 1,500 V DC to 25 kV AC power. The entire power conversion project cost about 500 crore. Since 25 kV AC power is 17 times stronger than DC, people riding on top of the trains will be killed if they come into contact with the overhead wires.

The project was also expected to improve the punctuality of train services, make them energy-efficient and allow a greater number of 12-coach and 15-coach trains to ply. Post-conversion, local trains will be able to achieve speeds of 100 km/h with ease. The next step would be to convert the remaining 9-coach trains to 12-coach ones, thus augmenting the carrying capacity by 33%.Mumbai: 25,000 volts to 'shock' rooftop travellers – India – IBNLive The system will need less maintenance.

While using DC traction, 22 substations provided power to suburban trains on the Western line. Since switching over to AC traction, substations at Mahalaxmi, Bandra, Jogeshwari, Borivli and Vasai supply 25 kV power to local trains.

Services As of 27 March 2012, the Western line has approximately 1,290 local services running, which carry about 3.55 million commuters every day. These 1290 local services are operated using 80 trains. Western Railways' EMUs are in 12 car and 15 car formations.Western Railway . Wr.indianrailways.gov.in (2013-03-29). Retrieved on 2013-07-16.

The first 9-car service on the Western line ran on 2 March 1961. The 9-car service has since been phased out, and the last service ran on the Western line on 20 November 2012. However, 10 services (six on CR and four on WR) were still operated as 9-car even after that date, as the track is shared by the Western line and the Harbour line. Harbour line platforms are too short to accommodate longer trains.

On 28 October 1986, 12-car services between Dadar and Virar were introduced. They halt at all six stations between Borivali and Virar because the Borivali-Virar section was still a double-track section for another 2 decades, making it impossible for fast locals to overtake slow locals unlike on the section between Churchgate and Borivali. Only in 2007 did fast locals started to skip , , , and .

On 21 November 2009, 15-car services between Dadar and Virar were introduced.city anchor: Central Railway starts 16 new services on main line – Indian Express Originally, they halt at only two stations between and , i.e. and , but now they halt at all six stations between Borivali and Virar, and halt at only one station () between Churchgate and Dadar. 15-coach trains are used in non-peak hours. They cannot be used in peak hours because the station platforms are too narrow to handle the increased foot traffic.

No. of coaches No. of Services Harbour Locals 110 12 1,150 15 30 Total 1,290

Historical The following table shows the number of services and daily ridership on the Western line throughout its history.WR brings Dahanu closer to city today – Times Of India. Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com (2013-04-16). Retrieved on 2013-07-16. Year No. of Services Daily Ridership 1867 6 No data 1990–91 866 2.3 million 1991–92 900 2.5 million 2000–01 961 2.82 million 16 April 2013 1305 3.6 million20251305+4 million

AC Local