A technical glitch in the signalling system at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) caused significant disruption to suburban services on the Central Railway on Tuesday afternoon. The issue, which arose around 2:30 pm, affected both UP and DOWN slow lines on the Main Line and led to delays and congestion for approximately 45 minutes.
Technical Malfunction Causes Train Congestion
The malfunction in the signalling system resulted in the bunching of local trains on the tracks. As trains bound for CSMT queued up, many passengers were seen jumping off the bogies and walking along the tracks to reach their destinations. The disruption also impacted both Slow and Fast routes on the Main Line, causing trains to run 20 to 30 minutes behind schedule.
According to a Central Railway spokesperson, the technical snag was identified around 2:30 pm, causing a temporary halt in services. The issue was promptly addressed, and the signalling system was rectified by 3:15 pm, restoring normal operations.
The Central Railway network, which operates over 1,800 suburban services across four corridors—Main, Harbour, Trans-Harbour, and Belapur-Uran—carries around 40 lakh commuters daily. The incident highlights the critical role of signalling systems in maintaining the efficiency and reliability of suburban train services.
As services resumed, commuters experienced a smoother flow of trains, but the brief disruption had already caused considerable inconvenience for those affected. Central Railway officials have assured that measures will be taken to prevent such occurrences in the future and minimize impact on daily commuters.