Mumbai Local Train Services Update: Andheri-Borivali Stretch Gets High-Tech Track Upgrades To Cut Travel Time

Commuters on the Western Railway are set to benefit from significant upgrades aimed at improving suburban train services. New cement-concrete sleepers, sturdier and deeper than the old ones, are being installed between Andheri and Borivali stations, according to a Hindustan Times (HT) report. These upgrades promise a smoother and quicker travel experience for passengers.

The Western Railway has confirmed that this initiative is part of a larger plan to replace sleepers along the entire track between Churchgate and Virar. Eventually, similar upgrades will be carried out along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Delhi route. The work is being conducted during the night to minimise disruptions to daily train services.

A specialised track-relaying train (TRT) is carrying out the upgrades. This advanced machine is not only replacing the old sleepers but also renewing the ballast-the crushed stones placed beneath the tracks. The railway is also using a rail grinding machine to smooth the rail surface, reducing the risk of cracks and fractures.

A railway official explained in the report, "We are strengthening the track infrastructure by replacing older concrete sleepers with heavier and deeper ones. The TRT digs deep into the earth to replace worn-out ballast with fresh material, ensuring a robust foundation for the tracks."

Key Features Of The New Sleepers

• Depth: 230 millimetres compared to the current 160 millimetres.
• Weight: 25 per cent heavier than the old sleepers.
• Efficiency: The TRT replaces as much track material in a single mega block as 300 workers would achieve manually.

The project will involve the installation of 3.92 lakh sleepers along 236 kilometres of track from Churchgate to Virar. These improvements will also allow high-speed trains such as the Rajdhani, Vande Bharat, and Shatabdi to operate at speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour. Once upgrades are extended to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Delhi corridor, travel times could be reduced by 30 to 45 minutes.

Passengers can look forward to faster, safer, and more comfortable journeys as these upgrades take shape across the network.