06 March,2026 08:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
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Western Railway will carry out a night jumbo block between Mahim and Santacruz stations during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, March 7-8, 2026, to undertake essential maintenance work on tracks, signalling systems and overhead equipment.
According to a press release issued by Western Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek, the block will be in effect from 1:00 am to 4:30 am on the UP and DOWN slow lines between Mahim and Santacruz.
During the block period, all Down slow line trains will be diverted to the Down fast line between Mumbai Central and Santacruz stations.
Due to inadequate platform length at certain stations, these trains will halt twice at Lower Parel, Mahim and Khar Road stations. However, trains will not halt at Mahalaxmi, Prabhadevi and Matunga Road stations during the block period as the fast line platforms are not available at these stations.
Western Railway also stated that some suburban services will remain cancelled during the block period. Commuters can check the detailed list of affected trains with station masters at all suburban stations.
Meanwhile, the railway administration clarified that there will be no daytime block on the Western Railway suburban section on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
Meanwhile, Western Railway (WR) has recovered more than Rs 191 crore in fines after detecting nearly 30 lakh cases of ticketless and irregular travel during intensive ticket checking drives carried out between April 2025 and February 2026.
This is a surge of over 42 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year, WR said in a press release issued by Chief Public Relations Officer Vineet Abhishek.
The release further stated that the ticket-checking staff, under the supervision of senior commercial officers, carried out extensive checks in Mumbai suburban local trains, long-distance Mail and Express trains, passenger services and holiday special trains.
The drives were aimed at curbing ticketless travel, minimising revenue leakage and promoting travel discipline among passengers.
During February 2026 alone, nearly three lakh cases of ticketless and irregular travel were detected, leading to the recovery of around Rs 18.50 crore in fines. This marks an increase of more than 10 per cent compared to the same month last year.
In the Mumbai suburban section, intensive checking drives also yielded significant results. In February 2026, about 87,000 cases of ticketless and irregular travel were detected, resulting in the recovery of Rs 4.28 crore.
Cumulatively, from April 2025 to February 2026, more than 10 lakh cases were detected in the Mumbai suburban network, with total fines amounting to nearly Rs 50 crore, including penalties collected in air-conditioned (AC) local trains.
WR also conducted focused checking drives in AC suburban local services to prevent unauthorised travel by passengers holding general tickets.
Between April 2025 and February 2026, more than 1.16 lakh penalty cases were booked in AC local trains, resulting in the recovery of Rs 3.76 crore in fines - an increase of nearly 99 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year.
Officials said the drives will continue as part of WR's efforts to curb ticketless travel and ensure disciplined and authorised travel across its network.
