August 25, 2025: In a major boost to Mumbai’s suburban rail infrastructure, Central Railway (CR) has embarked on the construction of 92 new stabling lines across its Mumbai Division. The initiative is designed to accommodate a significantly enlarged fleet being introduced under the Mumbai Urban Transport Projects (MUTP) Phase 3 and 3A.
The ambitious plan coincides with CR’s preparations to induct 138 new suburban train rakes — 123 in the 12-car configuration and 15 in the 15-car format. At present, the division operates 166 suburban rakes, supported by 162 stabling lines spread across various locations. The sharp rise in rolling stock has created a pressing requirement for additional stabling and maintenance capacity.
Of the 92 lines, 16 are being developed by the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) under MUTP 3, another 16 under MUTP 3A, with the remaining 60 being built by CR’s Construction wing.
“These stabling lines are being implemented in tandem with wider infrastructure projects. For instance, new facilities at Karjat and Mohape will be commissioned alongside the railway corridors coming up in those areas,” a senior MRVC official stated.
Stabling lines play a crucial role in parking rakes during non-operational hours and in carrying out routine inspections. Currently, around 12.5 per cent of CR’s suburban fleet is sent to car sheds for scheduled maintenance, while the rest are either accommodated on existing stabling lines or, due to space shortages, temporarily stationed at platforms, which hampers efficiency.
The expansion is expected to ease platform congestion, reduce delays, and facilitate faster turnaround of trains. More significantly, it paves the way for enhanced service frequency and improved reliability on a network that carries over four million commuters daily.
“This upgrade is not merely about parking trains but about unlocking greater capacity, cutting downtime, and ensuring a smoother suburban travel experience,” the official added.
Source: The Free Press Journal
