Pune-Daund Local Service Set to Begin Soon, Bringing Relief to Commuters
Pune, 27th June 2023: The residents of Daund will soon have a reason to rejoice as the much-awaited local service between Pune and Daund is set to commence. This development comes as Pune division is expected to receive five Electrical Multiple Unit (EMU) rakes from the Mumbai division, which will directly benefit a significant number of daily commuters, estimated to be around fifty thousand passengers. While the launch of the service is anticipated to take approximately six months, it is undoubtedly a step in the right direction.
For years, the residents of Daund have been advocating for a Pune local service. The demand for this service has been forwarded to the Central Railway Headquarters, as locals primarily operate in sections with suburban status. Granting suburb status to Daund falls under the jurisdiction of the state government, but rather than getting entangled in technical matters, the railway administration has decided to initiate the local service for the convenience of passengers.
The local service between Pune and Lonavala currently employs Siemens rakes. However, it is expected that Bombardier’s rakes will be utilized for the Pune-Daund route. Bombardier rakes are considered superior to Siemens, with a higher speed of 110 kmph compared to Siemens’ 100 kmph. Five local rakes will be deployed for the Pune-Daund service.
Dr Swapnil Neela, Senior Divisional Operations Manager of Pune, stated, “Pune will receive five rakes of EMU when the number of air-conditioned local trains increases in the Mumbai division. The Pune-Daund local service will commence as soon as these rakes become available.
Meanwhile, the department has initiated preliminary internal works.”
The initiation of the Pune-Daund local service is a commendable development that will benefit thousands of daily commuters. Furthermore, it would be beneficial if the railway administration considers connecting Daund to Lonavala through a local train as well.
Mayuresh Zaveri, a member of Pimpri Chinchwad Pravasi Sangh, expressed his support, stating, “This is a positive development for the commencement of the Pune-Daund local service. Once operational, it will significantly improve the daily commute for thousands of passengers. The railway administration should also explore the possibility of connecting Daund to Lonavala via a local train.”
Disadvantages of DEMU:
The Pune-Daund DEMU operates on diesel, resulting in relatively higher costs.
The limited number of eight coaches often leads to disputes over seating due to the high number of passengers.
The seating capacity of only 90 falls short as approximately 200 passengers end up standing.
The coaches have narrower dimensions compared to local trains.
The absence of a first-class compartment.
The average speed is restricted to 70 km per hour.
Advantages of local trains:
The use of electric EMU rakes eliminates the need for diesel.
The availability of 12 or 16 coach trains allows for accommodating a larger number of passengers.
Different compartments cater to various categories, such as vendors, ladies, and first class.
The wider coaches of local trains can accommodate more passengers compared to DEMU trains.
Each coach can accommodate 110 seats, in addition to approximately 300 standing passengers.
The higher speed of 110 km per hour enables faster travel, saving valuable time for passengers.
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