MUMBAI: Western Railway will deploy personnel at crowded stations such as Andheri, Dadar and Borivali to ensure automated doors of AC local trains close on time, as overcrowding in these services has emerged as a major contributor to delays on the suburban network.Officials said passenger movement in AC locals takes longer during peak hours as commuters crowd near the doorways, forcing trains to remain at platforms beyond scheduled halt times. The extended dwell time has been affecting punctuality and causing delays to subsequent services.According to Western Railway data, of the 1,414 suburban services operated, majority were delayed to varying degrees due to operational constraints. While most trains recorded minor delays, over 60 services ran late by 10 to 30 minutes, affecting lakhs of commuters.Unlike non-AC locals, where passengers can board and alight through open doors, AC trains rely on automated door operations. Railway officials said overcrowding often prevents doors from closing on schedule, leading to a cascading impact on train movements across the corridor.“Personnel will be deployed at super-dense stations to ensure doors close on time and passengers move quickly. Even a few seconds saved at each station can help maintain punctuality across the corridor,” a senior railway official said.Officials clarified that there is currently no proposal to introduce additional AC local services despite rising demand.
