Mumbai Local Train Services Block: Over 45 Trains And 60 Locals Affected – Check Routes

Passengers travelling on Central Railway (CR) this weekend will need to adjust their travel plans as trains will be unavailable between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Byculla, as well as between CSMT and Wadala on Friday and Saturday nights, according to a Hindustan Times (HT) report. The disruptions are due to platform extension works at CSMT, aimed at accommodating 24-coach express trains on Platforms 12 and 13.

CR made the announcement on Thursday, detailing how the platform expansion will affect train services over two consecutive nights. Starting from 11.30 pm on Friday, train services will be suspended between CSMT and Byculla for five hours, until 4.30 am on Saturday. On the following night, from 11.15 pm on Saturday to 9.15 am on Sunday, both the main and harbour lines will be impacted. Trains will not operate between CSMT and Byculla, and between CSMT and Wadala during this period.

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As per the HT report, Swapnil Nila, Chief Public Relations Officer of Central Railway, explained, "During the block period, several outstation trains will be short-originated and short-terminated, apart from three express trains being cancelled." The three trains affected are the Deccan Express, Intercity Express, and Tapovan Express. Passengers are advised to plan their journeys according to the revised schedules.

In total, more than 45 outstation trains will be impacted, with Dadar, Panvel, and Pune stations serving as short-termination and short-origin stations. Additionally, over 60 suburban local trains will either be cancelled, short-terminated, or short-originated at stations including Byculla, Parel, Dadar, and Kurla during the block period.

The platform extension work is being undertaken to lengthen Platforms 12 and 13 from the current 510 metres to 690 metres, to allow for the accommodation of 24-coach trains. Similar work was completed for Platforms 10 and 11 in June last year. However, platforms 8 and 9 cannot be extended due to space limitations. A budget of ₹62.18 crore was allocated in the Union Budget for the expansion of platforms 10 to 13 at CSMT.

During the block, 31 overhead electrification masts will need to be relocated, 34 signalling posts connected, and 500 metres of track will be laid to support the expansion efforts.