Pune-Lonavala Local Train Service Completes 47 Years, Commuters Demand More Frequency
Pune-Lonavala Local Train Service Completes 47 Years, Commuters Demand More Frequency
Pune, March 12, 2025 – The Pune-Lonavala suburban (local) train service marked its 47th anniversary on March 11, having played a crucial role in easing daily commutes for millions of passengers over the years.
Launched on March 11, 1978, the 60.59-kilometer rail service began with a single rake and two trips per day. Today, it operates with four rakes and runs 40 trips daily, connecting Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad with surrounding suburbs and rural areas. The service has become a lifeline for thousands of office-goers, students, and farmers traveling to Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad for work, education, and trade.
With the completion of an automatic signaling system on the Pune-Lonavala route, the gap between two trains has been reduced, allowing for smoother operations. However, railway activists and commuters have urged authorities to increase the number of local train trips, especially during peak hours, to manage passenger demand.
Iqbal Mulani, former president of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Railway Passenger Association, emphasized the need for the Pune-Lonavala third and fourth railway lines to ease congestion.
Mayuresh Javeri, a daily commuter, highlighted that while passenger numbers have surged over the last 20 years, the frequency of local trains has not increased accordingly.
Key Demands from Commuters:
- Construction of the third and fourth railway lines on the Pune-Lonavala route.
- Introduction of fast local trains during peak hours.
- Deployment of modern rakes such as Medha or Bombardier (Alstom) models.
- Increase in the number of local train services.
- Afternoon local train services.
- Launch of 15-coach local trains on the Pune-Lonavala route, similar to Mumbai’s suburban system.
Railway passengers continue to urge the authorities to take prompt action to enhance the local train service, making daily commutes more convenient and efficient.
