Central Railway has completed 90 years of suburban services today on 3.2.2015.On 3.2.1925 the first EMU service with 4-cars was flagged off by Sir Leslie Wilson, the then Governor of Mumbai. The first service ran from the then Bombay VT (now Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus Mumbai) to Kurla on harbor line.
Mumbai is the financial and commercial capital of India.Mumbai wouldn't have achieved this without the lifeline of the city –its local trains. The Mumbai Suburban Rail Network commonly referred to as Local Trains, is virtually the life line of the city of Mumbai.For any large densely populated urban area, the local trains are essential for a speedy cross-over of a large population over long distances. Lakhs of people travel regularly and...
more... commute by local trains over varying distances ranging from 10 to 60 kilometer a day.The Mumbai local railway network branches out through three main lines – Central, Western and the Harbour, each connecting a distinct part of the city to another.. It may be considered as one of the best example of strategic management in transport.Most commuters use this means of transport to reach the places of their job, profession,business and educational purposes. Most travelers commuting on a daily basis hold season passes that makes the local train travel even more cost-efficient.Mumbai is India's most populated city and with 7.5 million riders a day its trains are the most overloaded in the world, as even the Ministry of Railways acknowledges.
The progress of the Railway may be seen below and inherent to it is the constant endeavour of Indian Railways to serve the customers. YEAR WISE SUBURBAN SERVICES:
1925 – 150 services daily; 2.2 lakh passengers daily
1935 – 330 services daily; 3 lakh passengers daily
1945 – 485 services daily; passenger figure not available
1951 – 519 services daily; 4 lakh passengers daily
1961 – 553 services daily; 5 lakh passengers daily
1971 – 586 services daily; 6 lakh passengers daily
1981 – 703 services daily; 13.2 lakh passengers daily
1991 – 1015 services daily; 23.5 lakh passengers daily
2001 – 1086 services daily; 28.5 lakh passengers daily
2015 – 1618 services daily; 41 lakh passengers daily