Millions of commuters on Mumbai’s Western Line had a tough start to their Tuesday after Western Railway cancelled more than 100 local trains. As per official figures, 102 suburban services were cancelled today, according to an official release.
Western Railway said the disruption is due to technical work underway at the Kandivali car shed. In a press release, the railway authorities explained that the entry and exit of the car shed have been temporarily shut to connect newly laid tracks. This work is part of the final stage of the Kandivali–Borivali 6th Line project.
“Due to suspension of exit & entry at Kandivali car shed and speed restrictions imposed on UP & Down fast line between Kandivali and Malad some suburban services will remain cancelled on 20th January, 2026,” Western Railway said in a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter).
What areas will be impacted?
The maximum impact is being felt on the fast lines, especially for passengers travelling between the northern suburbs and South Mumbai. Several fast locals running between Borivali, Andheri and Churchgate have been cancelled.
Trains passing through the Kandivali–Malad stretch are running under strict speed limits, which is causing delays of around 15 to 20 minutes even for services that are still operating. Adding to the trouble, several AC local trains have also been cancelled, leading to heavier crowding in the regular non-AC locals, according to the data by Yatri App.
Reason behind the cancellations
Railway officials said the current inconvenience is part of a larger 30-day infrastructure block that began in late December 2025. Once completed, the project will allow long-distance trains to run on a separate corridor, reducing interference with suburban local services and improving reliability in the long run.
“Western Railway has successfully commissioned the remaining stretch of 3.21 km between Kandivali–Borivali, completing the Phase-I of the Mumbai Central–Borivali 6th Line project. Executed within a tight 30-day window, this critical addition boosts line capacity, enables segregation of suburban and long-distance trains, thereby improving punctuality of trains, benefitting lakhs of Mumbaikars,” Western Railway shared on X.
Western Railway has advised passengers to check the Yatri App or speak to station staff for the latest updates on train schedules. Heavy crowding is expected at key stations such as Dadar, Bandra and Andheri, and commuters have been asked to consider using the Metro or road transport if possible.
The car shed exit is likely to reopen by Wednesday, January 21, after which services are expected to gradually return to near normal.