Mumbai News: Suburban Rail Network Reports 52% Drop In Deaths On Western Line Amid Major Safety Push

The death rate on Mumbai’s suburban railway network has seen a significant decline over the last 15 years, with fatalities dropping by nearly 52% on the Western Railway (WR) and almost 40% on the Central Railway (CR). According to railway records, in 2009, the Central Railway’s Mumbai division reported 1,782 deaths on the tracks of its suburban network—an average of 5.1 deaths per kilometer per year. By 2024, this figure had dropped to 1,082 deaths, bringing the average down to 3.1 deaths per kilometer per year, marking a nearly 40% reduction.

The Western Railway, which had recorded 1,468 deaths on its suburban section in the Mumbai Central division in 2009—averaging 8 deaths per kilometer annually—saw that number fall to 709 deaths in 2024, with an average of 3.9 deaths per kilometer, translating to a 51.7% drop.

The suburban section of the Central Railway’s Mumbai division spans 350 route kilometers, while the Western Railway’s Mumbai Central division spans 183 route kilometers.

Railway officials attribute this consistent improvement in fatality figures to a series of focused and sustained safety measures, including increased carrying capacity, construction of boundary walls, enhanced surveillance systems, upgraded station infrastructure, public awareness initiatives, and stricter enforcement of rules against track trespassing.

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To curb track-related fatalities, Western Railway’s Mumbai Central division has implemented wide-ranging infrastructure improvements and service expansions. "Over the past 20 years, WR has added 399 additional suburban services, increasing the total from 1,007 in 2004 to 1,406 in 2024. This expansion has boosted the number of EMU (Electric Multiple Unit) coaches—also known as local train coaches—from 10,290 in 2004 to 17,505 in 2024, an increase of around 70%," said an official.

"All 9-car services were converted to 12-car trains by 2016, and the introduction of 15-car services began in 2009. By November 2024, WR was operating 211 such services. Harbour Line services on WR were extended up to Goregaon, and 109 air-conditioned local trains with automatic door-closing systems have been introduced. To prevent track trespassing, several new foot overbridges were built, and 116 escalators and 71 lifts were installed across the division," the WR official further added.

"For the convenience and safety of women commuters, WR launched the first ladies’ special on May 5, 1992. As of now, 10 pairs of ladies’ special trains run daily. Since October 12, 2022, Western Railway has also increased the seating capacity reserved for women in non-AC local trains from 23.33% to 25.47%, adding 25 additional seats by modifying general compartments," he said.

Similarly, Central Railway has also significantly upgraded its suburban services. A senior CR officer stated that the number of daily suburban services has increased by about 50% over the past 20 years—from approximately 1,200 in 2004 to 1,810 in 2024, across all corridors of the Mumbai division. Like WR, CR has also phased out 9-car services, replacing them with 12-car trains, and has begun the gradual introduction of 15-car rakes, although the number of 15-car services on CR remains quite low as of now.

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In addition to boosting capacity, CR has also focused on improving commuter safety by constructing multiple new foot overbridges and installing escalators and lifts across its suburban section. These measures, combined with technological upgrades and enforcement drives, have collectively contributed to the steady decline in fatalities on the city’s railway lines.

However, data provided by the Government Railway Police (GRP) is slightly higher than that provided by the Railways. According to the GRP, a total of 1,533 deaths were reported in the CR suburban section in 2024. Similarly, on WR, the GRP reported a total of 935 deaths in the suburban section of the Mumbai Central division.

"The GRP figures differ from those of the Railways because they also include 332 natural deaths within the railway premises, 93 suicides, and 26 cases where the cause of death could not be determined," said an official. He clarified that the total of 1,533 includes 451 such cases not directly caused by railway operations.

A senior WR officer also confirmed that similar discrepancies exist in the GRP figures for Western Railway as well, as the GRP data includes natural deaths and suicides, which can not attributed to operational issues.

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Mumbai’s suburban rail network, widely known as the lifeline of the city, transports over 7.5 million passengers daily. Historically plagued by overcrowding, track crossings, and unsafe boarding or alighting practices, the system has long been one of the most dangerous in the world for daily commuters. While challenges such as overcrowding and commuter behavior still exist, the latest data provided by the railway authority indicate that long-term investments in capacity expansion and passenger safety are beginning to yield positive results.