For the second consecutive day, Central Railway commuters were left frustrated as 12 scheduled air-conditioned (AC) local train services were operated with non-AC rakes. The unexpected downgrade during peak hours triggered widespread outrage, especially among season pass holders who pay a premium for AC travel.
The recurring disruptions have raised serious concerns about the reliability of AC local services on the Central Line. While railway authorities have yet to release an official explanation, internal sources suggest the issue stems from maintenance challenges and a shortage of functioning AC rakes.
The Central Railway's Mumbai Division issued a late-night update via social media platform X (formerly Twitter) at 12:01 am on June 25, informing commuters that 12 AC EMU services would run with non-AC rakes that day. The announcement included a chart listing the affected trains but the technical format left many passengers confused.
The timing and content of the announcement drew heavy criticism from daily travelers.
Vijay Kumar questioned the delay, stating, “Who puts a message at 12:01 am? You could have posted this by 8 pm the previous day.”
Echoing this sentiment, Onkar Lad commented, “Why this drama every day??”
Another user, Yuga, simply asked, “Why???”
Several passengers also complained about the jargon-heavy chart. Amit Gurjar remarked, “Make it understandable for commuters—what’s the use of posting an image that only railway staff can interpret?”
Adrian Boseman added sarcastically, “Please provide us training on how to read these as well.”
The repeated use of non-AC rakes during peak hours, without any compensation, added to the commuter resentment. Mohammad Rafique M Ali Shaikh criticized the decision: “This is absolutely not acceptable. Peak hours are critical—this is pathetic, and Mumbaikars are fed up with your attitude.”
A major point of contention was the lack of any compensation plan for those holding AC season passes. A user from the handle @MyCityMatter posted: “Please implement a compensation mechanism for commuters who bought season passes for AC trains at nearly three times the price of first-class. This is the second consecutive day that the 07:34 Kalyan-CSMT service is running as non-AC.”
As passenger dissatisfaction mounts, commuters are demanding better communication, greater transparency, and accountability from railway authorities.
