Rail passengers in Mumbai and across Maharashtra are set to benefit from improved regional access as the Central Railway introduces new halts for 52 trains at 22 stations. The initiative, rolled out on an experimental basis, is aimed at enhancing last-mile connectivity and addressing emerging travel patterns in rapidly urbanising areas.

According to the Ministry of Railways, 14 trains in the Mumbai division will now halt at four additional stations—namely Igatpuri, Pen, Roha, and Bhiwandi Road. Key trains such as the Vidarbha Express, Amravati Superfast Express, Shirdi Express, and Garibrath Express are included in the new schedule. These changes came into effect from early September.

The Pune division has seen the most substantial update, with 22 trains allocated new halts at 11 stations. Railway officials noted that rising population density and growing commuter traffic between Pune and adjoining semi-urban centres made these changes necessary. Rather than increasing the number of trains, the approach focuses on optimising existing services to address accessibility gaps.

In the Solapur and Bhusaval divisions, six trains each will now stop at three and two stations respectively. These additions are intended to serve smaller towns with previously limited access to long-distance rail services. Similarly, in the Nagpur division, four trains will halt at two rural stations, helping passengers connect to larger cities without relying on lengthy road journeys.

The Central Railway stated that these halts will be assessed over the coming months for passenger turnout and operational efficiency. If successful, the stops may be made permanent in the railway timetable. Experts have highlighted that such micro-level improvements significantly enhance passenger convenience, travel equity, and reduce road traffic congestion.

In a related move, the Western Railway has announced six pairs of special local trains during the night of 6–7 September to accommodate increased passenger volumes during Ganpati immersion on Anant Chaturdashi. The night trains aim to reduce overcrowding and ensure safer travel for devotees.

These initiatives, while operational in nature, underscore Indian Railways' commitment to building a more inclusive and passenger-centric transport system. By increasing halts without expanding the train fleet, the railways are striving to balance sustainability with convenience—contributing to lower carbon emissions while better serving public transport needs.

Passengers are advised to consult revised timetables and plan their journeys accordingly.