A meeting is being held at station master’s office in Bhayander where senior WR officials are present.

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday staged a protest against the conversion of a non-AC local train into an AC local on the Bhayander-Churchgate route. However, Western Railway (WR) officials dismissed the protest as politically motivated, stating that the change was made in response to passenger demand.
On November 26, WR introduced 13 new AC locals by replacing an equal number of non-AC trains in its timetable, citing increased preference for air-conditioned services.
The protest focused on the 8:24 am Bhayander-Churchgate train, which was converted to an AC local. Shiv Sena (UBT) alleged that the move inconvenienced non-AC passengers.
A WR official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, explained, “The conversion was prompted by the heavy demand for AC locals from Bhayander. For instance, the AC local departing Virar and arriving at Bhayander at 8.21 am used to be overcrowded, necessitating the deployment of RPF personnel to ensure the doors could be closed. This overcrowding often delayed the train, disrupting the punctuality of services during peak hours.”
To address the high demand and operational challenges, WR decided to introduce another AC local at 8.24 am, which, the official added, “is also running at full capacity.”