Mumbai: Heavy Rain Disrupts Thane Local Train Services; Check Affected Lines Here

Mumbai’s local train network, the blood of the city and its surrounding areas, was thrown into disarray on Sunday morning as heavy rain and a fallen tree caused major disruptions on the Thane line. The Central Railway (CR) route connecting Kasara and Titwala stations in Maharashtra’s Thane district bore the brunt of the chaos, leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

Heavy Rain Disrupts Local Train Services

As per RGM Machine’s report, Due To Heavy Rain at 05.30 Hrs, Soil came on the tracks on the Down Line between ATGAON, at KM 96/42.
Engineering Control declared Track Unsafe at 06.20 Hrs.

— DRM Mumbai CR (@drmmumbaicr) July 7, 2024

The trouble began around 6:30 am when torrential rain caused a deluge of soil onto the tracks between Atgaon and Thansit stations. This wasn’t the only obstacle – a large tree, uprooted by the downpour, lay sprawled across the tracks near Vashind station, creating a complete blockage. The busy Kalyan-Kasara route, a vital artery for countless commuters, ground to a halt.

Responding swiftly to the situation, Central Railway officials prioritised safety. After a thorough inspection, they declared the affected tracks unsafe for train operation. With passenger safety paramount, a spokesperson for CR confirmed the immediate suspension of services between Kasara and Titwala stations.

Also Read: From Heavy Rains In Delhi To Downpour In Goa, Rainfall Updates Across India, You Need To Know

Disruption On The Kasara-Titwala Route

Due to heavy rains train services between Kalyan and Kasara are disrupted. Kalyan to Kasara has been made safe with restricted speed. Work in progress for restoring Kasara to CSMT movement. Passengers are requested to kindly note. https://t.co/ExW2Dnoqow

— Dr Swapnil Nila (@swapnil_IRTS) July 7, 2024

Further complicating matters, another CR spokesperson reported an additional hurdle. The heavy rain had caused an overhead equipment (OHE) pole near Vashind station to tilt precariously. This critical component, responsible for supplying electricity to the trains, became entangled with the pantograph – the device on a train that collects current from the overhead wires. This entanglement posed a significant safety risk and further delayed the resumption of services.

The disruption on the Kasara-Titwala route had a significant impact on commuters residing in Thane, Palghar, and Raigad districts. Mumbai’s suburban railway network, particularly the CR system, serves as the backbone of the city’s transportation infrastructure. With over 30 lakh commuters using these trains daily, a suspension of service creates a ripple effect throughout the city.

Also Read: Day After Derailment, Mumbai Local Harbour Line Continues To See Delay In Services

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of Mumbai’s crucial transportation network to extreme weather events. The heavy rainfall exposed potential weaknesses in the system’s resilience. Ensuring the smooth functioning of the city’s local train network – demands a proactive approach that can effectively mitigate the impact of such disruptions in the future.

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (Representative Image)