Mumbai suburban goes up to 125 km in 4 different routes, where metro is well within the halfway mark. Metro will be confined to MMRDA limits and even less.
So it may not be exactly possible to convert all trains to AC in long term, too. No one from DRD or KSRA will pay metro fare for local AC travel. But it will certainly prevent local vendors selling headphones, popcorn and other items inside AC locals.
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While FC gave local passengers an elite feel, AC locals can't. But at metro fares, AC locals will make local FC redundant.
AC local trains are smart, and the software can upgrade them to be smarter. Train frequency could be increased, and leakages could be reduced, like no w/t travel for AC local. Like metro, AC local tickets could be smart (QR based).
Smart days are ahead for Mumbai local train commuters! with the only blip that it will begin to happen in next year. Fare committee for AC local fare is still deliberating (?) and may do so for some more weeks.
Anyways, metro will be offering different halts except interchange points. 2 new routes are expected to begin ops within this FY. Now that is expected to ease journey between Dahisar and Andheri. WR would seriously be inspecting its impact on AC/FC local passenger volume. Fingers crossed.