Why Mumbai’s Local Trains Succeed — And Delhi & Bengaluru Don’t

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Description

Mumbai’s local trains are more than just transport — they’re the lifeline of the city. Carrying over 7.5 million passengers every single day, these suburban trains are fast, affordable, and deeply woven into Mumbai’s culture. But here’s the big question — why is Mumbai the only city in India with a suburban rail network this legendary?

In this episode of The Climate Brief, we dive into:
🚆 Mumbai’s suburban rail – history, scale, and why it still works.
🚆 Delhi’s forgotten Ring Railway – how it went from promise to near-oblivion.
🚆 Bengaluru’s suburban dream – decades of delay and what’s finally changing.

We compare metros vs suburban rail, explore why both are essential for India’s growing cities, and look at the climate impact of shifting commuters from roads to rail. From congestion to carbon emissions, this story uncovers what India stands to gain — or lose — if suburban rail is ignored.

If you care about urban transport, climate change, or how India’s cities actually move, this is an episode you can’t miss.

📌 Watch our full Public Transport Series for deep dives into metros, buses, and now suburban rail.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro.
01:05 - Chapter 1: The Rail Divide/Mumbai Local
03:32 - Delhi Local Train
05:12 - Bengaluru Local Train Dream
07:10 - Metro vs Suburban Rail





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