Mumbai commuters on the Western Railway network faced delays on Friday morning after multiple technical faults disrupted suburban train operations between Churchgate and Virar. Railway officials said services were running around 10 to 15 minutes behind schedule following overhead equipment (OHE) failures and a point malfunction near Churchgate.
Multiple Technical Faults Affect Morning Operations
According to railway officials, the first OHE failure was reported between Dadar and Churchgate during the early morning hours. Shortly afterwards, another overhead equipment fault occurred between Churchgate and Mumbai Central.
Adding to the disruption, a point failure was reported at Churchgate station around 8 am, affecting the movement of several suburban services on the busy corridor.
The combined impact of these technical issues resulted in delays across multiple local train services operating between Churchgate and Virar.
Public Holiday Limits Commuter Impact
Although train services were affected during the morning rush, officials noted that the overall impact on passengers remained relatively limited because Muharram is being observed as a public holiday across Mumbai, resulting in lower commuter traffic than on a regular working day.
Western Railway Plans Marshals for AC Local Trains
The disruption comes at a time when Western Railway has announced new measures to improve punctuality on its suburban network.
Officials have decided to deploy marshals at selected high-footfall stations during peak hours to ensure that automatic doors of air-conditioned local trains close on time. Railway authorities believe delays in door closure have become one of the key reasons behind the decline in punctuality of AC suburban services.
Passenger Overcrowding Under Review
Western Railway officials said AC local trains, introduced to provide a more comfortable travel experience, are now carrying passenger loads well beyond their intended capacity during office hours.
According to recent operational data, 1,404 out of 1,414 suburban services operated on June 23 were delayed. While many trains recorded minor delays of one to five minutes, dozens ran more than five minutes late, and one service was delayed by over 30 minutes.
With nearly 30 to 32 lakh passengers depending on Western Railway every day, authorities are working on operational measures aimed at improving punctuality and reducing disruptions across Mumbai’s suburban rail network.
