Mumbai: Western Railway To Boost Bandra Terminus Capacity With 3 New Pit Lines, Enabling Enhanced Maintenance For Vande Bharat Trains

Mumbai: The Western Railway is set to boost its operational capacity at Bandra Terminus with the construction of three additional pit lines, a key step in enhancing the maintenance infrastructure for long-distance trains. According to an official, these pit lines can also be used to maintain Vande Bharat trains if needed in the future.

"Provisions are being made for the upgradation of these pit lines for the maintenance of Vande Bharat trains. Currently, the only maintenance facility for state-of-the-art Vande Bharat trains within the Mumbai Central division is located at Mumbai Central" said an official.

The new pit lines at Bandra Terminus are expected to significantly enhance the station's operational efficiency and train-handling capacity. According to officials, these pit lines will be fully equipped to examine and maintain Vande Bharat trains as well as traditional trains, ensuring better service quality and faster turnaround times.

Currently, Bandra Terminus handles 23 trains on average daily, with three functional pit lines examining nine trains, while the rest are serviced as platform returns. With the addition of three more pit lines, scheduled for completion in phases—one in February, one in March, and the final one in May 2025—the capacity to examine trains will be double. This expansion will enable the terminus to accommodate and maintain up to nine additional trains daily.

"More pit lines mean increased capacity to examine and maintain trains, ensuring smoother operations. Once the new pit lines are operational, the total train-handling capacity at Bandra Terminus will rise to 32 trains daily," an official said, adding that out of these 32 trains, 18 can be fully maintained daily.

"This development is part of Western Railway's broader plan to enhance infrastructure for Vande Bharat trains and improve passenger services. The expansion is poised to decongest Mumbai Central's maintenance facility and enable better utilization of resources across the division," said an official.

Bandra Terminus is one of the major rail terminus in the city, providing connectivity to the northwest and central parts of the country, including Uttar Pradesh.