Pune-Lonavala suburban local service completed 46 years on March 11

Pune’s Suburban Railway Service is of course known as “Pune Suburban Railway Network”. The Pune – Lonavala Local completed 46 years on 11th March 2024.

Suburban EMU local service started on 11th March 1978 between Pune and Lonavala, initially 7 coach EMU local ran later 9 and now 12 coach EMU local runs.

If we look at the history of the last 46 years, Pune has never got a new fresh factory out of EMU rake. The Pune-Lonavala journey is being done by the old rake given to Pune, used in Mumbai suburbs. Passengers from Pune to Lonavala are expecting Pune to get a new rake of Bombardier or Medha EMU this year, making its debut in 46 years.

Also, in the last 46 years there has been no increase in Pune-Lonavala local trips. Now that the work of the automatic signal system has been completed between Lonavala and Pune, there is a demand from the passengers to increase the local trips during office hours. Also, since the length of the platforms at all the stations has been increased, some morning and evening trips can also be operated by these 15-coach local trains.

These are some of the highlights of the local service:

✓ From 1978 to 2007-08 Pune Local was running as a DC (Direct Current) Local.

✓ In 2009-10 Pune got BHEL rake.

✓ AC (Alternate Current) EMU started running in 2014-15.

✓ During 2015 to 18 locals started running using retrofitted rakes.

✓ From 2018 till now Siemens Rake is running between Pune and Lonavala.

Shreyas Vange