3 weeks ago
Technical snags disrupt Mumbai local trains, commuters face delays
On Monday, local trains in Mumbai, India, had technical problems and ran late.
Millions of people ride Mumbai's local trains every day.
There were problems on both the Western Railway and Central Railway lines.
On the Western Railway, small track parts called 'points' broke at three different stations.
Because of that, around 45 train trips were cancelled.
On the Central Railway, a piece of wire fell onto the electric wires near Mulund station.
This caused sparks and smoke, which scared people waiting at the station.
Railway workers quickly removed the wire, and trains started moving again after about 24 minutes.
Still, many trains were 20 to 30 minutes late and very crowded.
Officials think the wire fell while workers were doing construction work at the station.
Local train services on both Western Railway and Central Railway lines in Mumbai were disrupted on Monday, August 10, due to technical issues.
Western Railway suffered three point failures at Vasai Road (4:46 am), Dadar (10:10 am) and Goregaon (10:22 am), and cancelled around 45 local trips.
A piece of wire fell onto overhead equipment near Mulund at 11:53 am, causing sparks, smoke and panic among commuters.
The wire was removed by 12:15 pm and services resumed at 12:17 pm, with three Central Railway trains delayed by 20, 14 and 8 minutes.
Officials suspect the wire fell during Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) work at Mulund, reported as passenger deck work or dismantling of an old foot overbridge.
- Who
- Daily commuters on Mumbai's suburban local trains, along with Western Railway and Central Railway officials and Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) staff
- What
- Disruption of local train services caused by point failures at three locations on Western Railway and a wire falling onto overhead equipment near Mulund on Central Railway
- Where
- Mumbai, including Vasai Road, Dadar, Goregaon, Mulund, and the stretch between Grant Road and Churchgate
- When
- Monday, August 10
- Why
- Technical point failures and a wire falling onto overhead equipment during MRVC construction work at Mulund station
Commuters
Railway Authorities and MRVC
Responsibility for the disruptions
Commuters
Commuters raised questions about accountability, with passenger Keval Magiya asking who is responsible for the repeated delays on the Mumbai Central line.
Railway Authorities and MRVC
MRVC Chief Public Relations Officer Sunil Udasi said the corporation will look into the matter and ascertain the facts.
Safety at construction sites
Commuters
Questions were raised over safety arrangements at the Mulund construction site after material reached the overhead equipment, and one commuter stepped onto the tracks to escape a stuck train.
Railway Authorities and MRVC
Railway staff quickly removed the wire, inspected the overhead equipment and resumed services, noting that the individual point faults were rectified relatively quickly.
Key facts
- Affected networks
- Western Railway and Central Railway suburban lines
- Point failures
- Vasai Road (4:46 am), Dadar (10:10 am), Goregaon (10:22 am)
- Wire incident
- Wire fell on overhead equipment near Mulund at 11:53 am
- Restoration
- Wire removed by 12:15 pm; services resumed at 12:17 pm after about 24 minutes
- Cancellations and delays
- WR cancelled around 45 trips; CR delayed 3 trains by 20, 14 and 8 minutes
- Reported delays
- 20-30 minutes late with train bunching between Grant Road and Churchgate
- Suspected cause
- MRVC construction work at Mulund - passenger deck work or dismantling of an old foot overbridge
- Daily ridership
- Nearly 75 lakh passengers
Quotes
Western Railway spokesperson
Official representing Western Railway operations
“The train was stuck near Dadar for around 30 minutes. I even stepped onto the tracks, and just as I did, the train started moving. I had to sprint back into the train, but I still reached nearly an hour late. The delay added around 1.5 hours to my workday and completely ruined my morning.”
freepressjournal.in
“"Suburban services on the main line were affected after a piece of wire fell onto the overhead equipment of the down slow line near Mulund at 11.53 am."”
theprint.in









