Segregation of outstation trains, fast locals starts this weekend in Mumbai

Workers carry out infrastructural work during a block between Diva and Thane stations. File pic/Satej Shinde

Fast suburban and outstation train lines will finally start getting segregated from this weekend, after a 14-hour work block. The segregation has been the main purpose of building the 5th and 6th corridors. "Only Kalyan-bound fast lines will be segregated this weekend and all other lines in the last block proposed in February," a senior railway official said.

"The work will be done for 14 hours on Kalyan-bound fast line from 1.20 am on 23.01.2022 (Sat/Sun midnight) to 3.20 pm on 23.01.2022 and for two hours on CSMT-bound fast line from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm on 23.01.2022 (Sunday). During the block period, trains will run on slow lines between Diva-Thane," a Central Railway spokesperson said.

"The work will include cut-and-connection of old redundant slow line with existing fast lines and commissioning of crossovers in connection with Thane-Diva 5th and 6th lines," he said. Konkan-bound mail express trains will halt and run via platform no. 7 at Thane. He added, "After the block, Kalyan-bound fast local trains /mail express trains will run via Thane platform no. 5 on fast new alignment running through Kalwa and Mumbra stations in Thane-Diva section.

After the block, outgoing outstation trains leaving CSMT/Dadar/LTT towards Panvel arriving via fast line will arrive on platform no. 7 at Thane and go via the new 5th line through Parsik tunnel." During the block period, a host of trains have been cancelled, short-terminated and short-originated.

"Concerned local municipalities are being informed to arrange additional buses in affected sections during the block period to minimise inconvenience," Central Railway chief public relations officer Shivaji Sutar said.