Western Railway (WR) has announced new train timings effective January 1, aiming to improve punctuality for 45 long-distance trains by two to eleven minutes and speed up 28 trains, saving a total of 157 minutes. Additionally, a new direct shuttle service between Virar and Surat will commence on January 3, eliminating the need for a change at Dahanu. These enhancements are attributed to infrastructure upgrades, new rail corridors, and modern coaches, with further improvements expected from the upcoming sixth rail line between Kandivali and Borivali.