The 1853 engine that moves 7.5 million people every single day

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: It is the oldest railway system in Asia, yet it remains one of the busiest in the world. From a 34-kilometre inaugural journey to a massive 450-kilometre network, discover how Mumbai’s legendary local trains evolved from British East India Company tracks into a modern transit titan.

The Mumbai Suburban Railway's origins date back to 16 April 1853, when the Great Indian Peninsula Railway launched the first passenger service in Asia. That historic 34-kilometre run between Bori Bunder and Thane took 57 minutes, featuring a 14-coach train that paused at Sion specifically to refill its water tanks. Since then, the network has expanded into a 450-kilometre web of tracks serving the vast Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Today, the system is a powerhouse of movement, carrying more than 7.5 million commuters daily—roughly 40% of all Indian Railways' daily commuters. This massive ridership translates to an annual figure of 2.64 billion passengers. The fleet has transitioned from early 1.5 kV DC traction to a modern 25 kV, 50 Hz AC power supply, utilizing 191 rakes in 12-car and 15-car configurations to manage the immense density.

Modernization brings both innovation and engineering hurdles. While new Siemens and Bombardier rakes can reach speeds of 120 km/h under light traffic, the introduction of air-conditioned coaches faced significant setbacks. In 2016, a new AC rake intended for the Central Line was found to be 6.5 centimetres too tall, exceeding the 4.270-metre clearance of certain British-era bridges. This forced a transfer of the service to the Western Line, where it finally began commercial operations in December 2017.

The network continues to grow through massive infrastructure projects. The Western Railway is currently working on extending branch lines to Borivali by late 2028, while the Panvel-Karjat corridor is nearing completion, with 85% of the project finished as of June 2026.

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