Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]: The first local train on the UP slow line near Bandra resumed operations at 9:55 AM on Saturday following the successful completion of an overnight block for the reconstruction of Bridge No. 20, Western Railway officials confirmed.
The block, which caused delays of 15–20 minutes across the Mumbai Suburban section, required the diversion of UP and DN slow line services to fast lines overnight. Services have now been restored, bringing some relief to commuters.
Western Railway has implemented a three-day jumbo block from January 24 to January 26, 2025. The block, primarily conducted during nighttime hours to minimize disruption, commenced at 11 PM each night and is set to conclude at 8:30 AM daily. However, delays and interruptions significantly affected early morning commuters, especially those traveling between 5:30 AM and 6:45 AM.
Impact on Train Services
The ongoing maintenance and upgrades have affected both suburban and long-distance trains:
- Rescheduled Long-Distance Trains (January 25, 2025):
- Train No. 20901, Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar Capital Vande Bharat Express, will depart at 06:15 hrs.
- Train No. 22953, Mumbai Central-Ahmedabad Gujarat Superfast Express, will depart at 06:40 hrs.
- Train No. 12009, Mumbai Central-Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express, will depart at 06:30 hrs.
- Train No. 09052, Bhusaval-Dadar Special, will short-terminate at Borivali and remain partially cancelled between Borivali and Dadar.
Suburban Train Disruptions:
- Services between Churchgate and Dadar are being operated on the fast lines.
- Suburban trains originating from Virar, Nallasopara, Vasai Road, Bhayandar, and Borivali will run up to Andheri.
- Some Western and Central Railway services between Goregaon and Bandra will be diverted to Harbour lines.
- Approximately 150 suburban services will be cancelled, and 90 services will be partially cancelled over the weekend.
While the block is critical for infrastructure upgrades and the reconstruction of Bridge No. 20, the disruptions have caused significant inconvenience for commuters. Railway authorities are working to complete the maintenance efficiently and restore full services as soon as possible.
Passengers are advised to check Western Railway updates on social media platforms, such as X, for real-time information and updates on train schedules.