Mumbai: Passenger associations, dabbawalas unhappy with night block undertaken by Central Railway

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Central Railway has undertaken 'midnight traffic and power blocks' in Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) yard for enhancement of coaching experience which began on the intervening night of Sunday/ Monday to February 18, 2024. However, passengers have expressed mixed feelings over the block for which a total of 48 outstation trains are either rescheduled or short-terminated/originated at various stations.

The passengers said that the block, which coincides with the Maghi Ganesh Chaturthi is discomforting many. The Mumbai Dabbawalla Association, too, has expressed concerns about the block.

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Subhash Gupta of Rail Yatri Sangha told mid-day, "We are not against blocks or infrastructure development but railways should consider the fact that a major festival is upcoming and people might have booked tickets to travel to their native place well in advance. The Central Railway does not consider the passengers' concerns before announcing a major block. Plus, the block begins at 10:30 PM hindering the night local trains which will also affect the morning trains. This will also increase issues for office-goers this week. The rescheduled timetable will surely cause chaos on the central line throughout the week."

He lamented, "If the block had been announced in advance, the passengers would have considered other modes of transport for the festival. The Central Railway always disappoints us (passengers) by declaring such blocks at the last moment. Now the travelling cost will also significantly increase as other modes of transport are cost extensive."

Nandkumar Deshmukh, President of the Federation of Suburban Passengers Association, echoing similar thoughts said, "Had railways taken the passengers association in confidence, we would have informed the passengers to consider other modes of transport in advance. Moreover, Central Railway never writes to other transportation services to make arrangements for increased load during the block period resulting in the stress on those services."

He further stated that the railway should have written to the state transportation department that the number of buses on routes facing a block should be increased to avoid overcrowding.

Subhash Talekar, president of the Mumbai Dabbawalla Association said, "The night block will affect the morning train services. This would also mean that the load on morning locals will increase. Since we start our day early in the morning, the load on morning trains will also affect us. We need to deliver tiffin to many Mumbaikars in the morning and this block can become a hindrance in providing this service on time."

An official from Central Railway said, "Though over 40 outstation trains will be cancelled or rescheduled, we have tried to minimise the disturbances to passengers as much as possible. This infrastructure development is much needed and will prove to be a boon in the long run."

Sources from CR disclosed the repercussions and details of long-distance (outstation) trains which will be cancelled or rescheduled due to the block and also said that the block will commence between 10:30 PM to 3:30 PM. The details are:

Day 1 (11th / 12th February):

Ø Sick line placement will be affected also advanced planning for rakes on pit lines will be done

Day 2 (12th / 13th February):

Ø Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) to Patliputra Express scheduled to depart at 11:35 PM will be rescheduled to depart at 4:30 AM

Ø LTT to Gorakhpur Kushinagar Express scheduled to depart at 12:35 AM will be departing at 1:20 AM

Ø LTT to Jaynagar Express scheduled to depart at 11:30 AM will depart at 12:15 PM

Ø Vishakhapatnam to LTT Express will be short-terminated at Thane instead of LTT

Day 3 (13th / 14th February):

Ø No delays in outstation trains

Day 4 (14th / 15th February):

Ø LTT to Secunderabad Duranto Express is scheduled to depart at 11:05 PM and will depart at 11:30 PM.

Ø LTT to Patliputra Express scheduled to depart at 11:35 PM will be rescheduled to depart at 11:50 PM

Ø Ballila to LTT express will be regulated and arrive at 12:45 AM instead of its designated arrival time.

Ø Darbhanga to LTT express will be regulated and arriving at 1:00 AM instead of its designated arrival time

Ø Gorakhpur to LTT Kushinagar Express will regulated and arrive at 1:20 AM instead of its designated arrival time.

Ø Ayodhya Cantt to LTT express will be regulated and arriving at 4:45 AM instead of its designated arrival time

Ø Shalimar to LTT express will be regulated and arriving at 5:00 AM instead of the designated arrival time.

Ø Vishakhapatnam to LTT express will be regulated and arrive at 5:15 AM instead of its designated arrival time

Ø Gorakhpur LTT express will be regulated and arrive at 5:25 AM instead of its regular arrival time

Day 5 (15th / 16th February):

Ø LTT to Gorakhpur Kushinagar Express scheduled to depart at 12:35 AM will be departing at 1:20 AM

Ø Ballila to LTT express will be regulated and arrive at 12:45 AM instead of its designated arrival time.

Ø Kochuveli to LTT express will be regulated and arrive at 4:10 AM instead of its designated arrival time

Ø Shalimar to LTT Jananeshwari Express will be regulated and will arrive at 4:20 AM instead of the designated arrival time

Ø Shalimar to LTT express will be regulated and arriving at 4:30 AM instead of the designated arrival time

Ø Vishakhapatnam to LTT express will be regulated and arrive at 4:45 AM instead of the designated arrival time

Ø Gorakhpur to LTT express will be regulated and arriving at 5:00 AM instead of the designated arrival time

Ø Karmali to LTT AC Express will be short-terminated at Thane instead of LTT

Day 6 (16th / 17th February):

Ø LTT to Madgaon Express scheduled to depart at 12:45 AM will be departing at 1:20 AM

Ø Madgaon to LTT express will be regulated and will arrive at 12:30 AM instead of the designated arrival time

Ø Gorakhpur to LTT Kushinagar Express will regulated and arrive at 12:40 AM instead of its designated arrival time.

Ø Darbhanga to LTT express will be regulated and arrive at 12:55 AM instead of the designated arrival time

Ø Shalimar to LTT Jananeshwari Express will be regulated and will arrive at 4:05 AM instead of the designated arrival time

Ø Shalimar to LTT express will be regulated and arriving at 4:35 AM instead of the designated arrival time

Day 7 (18th February): block will be between 8:15 AM and 2:15 PM

Ø LTT to Chapra Godan Express scheduled to depart at 10:55 AM will be departing at 3:20 PM

Ø LTT to Jaynagar Express scheduled to depart at 11:30 PM will depart at 3:30 PM

Ø LTT to Ballia Kamayani Express scheduled to depart at 1:50 PM will depart at 3:50 PM

Ø LTT to Patna Express scheduled to depart at 2:45 PM will depart at 5:20 PM

Ø LTT to Saltanpur Express scheduled to depart at 3:45 PM will depart at 4:10 PM

Ø LTT to Kakinada Express scheduled to depart at 1:20 PM will depart at 7:15 PM

Ø Coimbatore to LTT express will be regulated and arrive at 2:30 PM instead of the designated arrival time

Ø The following trains will be regulated and will reach 45 to 60 minutes late -Prayagraj to LTT Duronto Express, Gorakhpur to LTT Express, Chhapra to LTT Express and Agra Cantt to LTT Express

Ø Thiruvananthapuram to LTT Netravathi Express will be short-terminated at Panvel instead of LTT

Ø Mangaluru to LTT Matsyagandha Express will be short-terminated at Panvel

Ø Kakinda to LTT Express will be short-terminated at Thane

Ø Patna to LTT express will be short-terminated at Thane

Ø Banaras to LTT Express will be short-terminated at Thane

Ø Patliputra to LTT Express will be short-terminated at Thane

Ø Hatia to LTT express will be short-terminated at Thane

Ø LTT to Thiruvananthapuram Netravati express will be short originated from Panvel instead of LTT at 1:40 PM

Ø LTT to Mangaluru Matsyagandha express will be short originated from Panvel instead of LTT at 5:10 PM