Republic Day 2026: In a massive boost to daily commuters, Indian Railways has rolled out 14 brand new air-conditioned (AC) local trains on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT)-Panvel Harbour line as a special Republic Day gift for Mumbaikars.
This announcement would be of great interest to the lifeline of Mumbai’s workforce, including office-goers, iconic dabbawalas, local businesses, students and others. The AC trains would make daily travel more comfortable, secure, safe and convenient in the hot, humid and increasingly polluted climate of Mumbai.
It is expected that this measure would attract two-wheeler and car users back to the suburban rail system. It would also be beneficial to reduce fuel consumption, congestion and overall urban emissions.
Republic Day 2026- Harbour Line Local Train Upgrade
The Harbour Line, which connects Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to Panvel via key stops like Wadala, Kurla and Vashi, sees more than 10 lakh passengers every day. These AC locals are equipped with modern amenities such as LED lighting, CCTV and ergonomic seating to redefine suburban travel. These trains would operate from early morning to late night hours, easing peak-hour chaos.
New AC Local Train Routes & Timings
The 12-car AC rakes will run on the CSMT-Panvel corridor and it would be covering more than 50 kilometres in less than 90 minutes.
The upfast services from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) would depart CSMT at 8:15 AM, 9:30 AM, 5:45 PM and 7:20 PM. Return journeys would be Panvel-CSMT at 6:30 AM, 4:15 PM and 8:00 PM. First train would be from CSMT at 5:30 AM and last from Panvel at 11:45 PM.
Train fares would start at ₹25 (short hops) to ₹100 (end-to-end), with UTS app bookings for seamless ticketing. Commuters can check the full timetable on the NTES app or CR official site for real-time updates.
