A technical issue with the engine of the CSMT-bound Latur Express near Kalwa station in Thane district on Monday (August 26) morning disrupted local train services on the main line towards Mumbai, according to officials. During the morning rush hour, local trains heading to CSMT were delayed by at least 15-20 minutes on the first day of the week.
Central Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, Swapnil Nila, reported that the Latur Express experienced brake “pressure trouble” and was held at Kalwa station for about 20 minutes around 8:30 am before being moved to Thane station.
Nagpur-CSMT Duranto Express delayed
The Nagpur-CSMT Duranto Express, which was following the Latur Express, also faced a delay of approximately 20 minutes.
Commuter criticised Central Railway’s operational choices, particularly the decision to route CSMT-bound mail and express trains through the fast corridor at Kalwa station. They argue that utilising the 5th and 6th tracks between Kalyan and Thane stations could ease congestion and minimise delays for long-distance trains.
40 lakh commuters utilise Central Railway suburban services daily
Central Railway, one of India’s busiest railway zones, manages over 1,800 suburban services each day across its four primary corridors: Main, Harbour, Trans-Harbour, and Belapur-Uran. These services transport approximately 40 lakh commuters daily, underscoring the importance of reliable and efficient operations for millions of passengers.
On August 20, commuters experienced significant disruptions as local train services on the Ambernath-Karjat section of the main line were halted for 10 hours due to protests at Badlapur railway station in Thane district.