Mumbai: Brace for delays in Western Railway for a month

Start early if you are travelling on Western Railway (WR) this month as trains will remain slow and delayed following the work of building an additional corridor between Goregaon and Kandivli. The speed limits will continue for the entire month delaying trains on the line. The work is for the greater good as the new corridor, once complete, will segregate the local traffic from national traffic, offer more paths, and allow the Railways to increase services eventually," a WR spokesperson said.

The deserted platform no. 1 at Malad station, on Sunday. Pics/Satej Shinde

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As part of the ongoing 6th line project, the densely packed Mumbai suburban railway will soon see a new 4.5 km stretch of rail line added on the Western Railway route between Goregaon and Kandivli. This expansion is expected to be completed within a month. The work is being done with all relevant permissions following the Commissioner of Railway parametres and close-knit team monitoring.

"A new line has been squeezed in as a slow line at Malad station and all lines will move westwards one by one by cutting and connecting them. On Sunday, the new line was cut and connected with the system. One by one all the lines will be cut and connected by October 5," he added. "So when the cut and connection is being done, as a part of the caution order a speed limit will be brought in force for safety a day before the work. After the work is complete, there is a restricted speed of 20 kmph, followed by 30 kmph after two days, followed by 45 kmph and then to 70 kmph. This cycle will continue as a technical requirement for all the lines and there is no compromise with safety," he added.

WR has shifted platform no. 1 at Malad station towards the West on Sunday morning so they could lay the new 5th and 6th rail lines. Pic/Satej Shinde

On September 1, the Down (Virar/Dahanu-bound) slow line was connected, hence there is a caution order of 20 kmph at Malad station as of Monday with a platform change. On September 8, the Up (Churchgate-bound) slow line will be cut and connected with a platform change. This will be followed by a Ganapati festival break to avoid inconvenience and crowding.

After this, a block on September 22 will cut and connect the Down (Virar/Dahanu-bound) fast line followed by platform change followed by the fourth block of September 29 of cut and connection of Up (Churchgate-bound) fast locals followed by platform change at Malad. The final block will take place on October 5 for the cut and connection of the 5th line.

Once this is done, final approval will be taken from the Commissioner of Railway Safety and the project will be completed. "During the entire project, services will remain slow and steady with delays," he added.