During the block period, all the local trains operating on the fast line will run on slow lines between Churchgate and Mumbai Central stations
The block will be carried out to undertake maintenance work of tracks. Representational pic
To carry out maintenance work of tracks, signalling and overhead equipment, a jumbo block of five hours will be taken on the UP and Down fast lines between Churchgate and Mumbai Central (local) stations from 10.35 am to 15.35 pm on Sunday, the Western Railway informed.
During the block period, all the local trains operating on the fast line will run on slow lines between Churchgate and Mumbai Central.
Due to the block, some suburban trains will remain cancelled while some Churchgate-bound trains will be short-terminated/reversed at Bandra/Dadar stations.
Detailed information on the effect of the block is available with the station masters concerned.
More fast locals to halt at Diva station from September timetable
The number of fast local trains halting at Diva railway station is set to increase in September, as per the new railway timetable and assurances given by officials to protesting commuter organisations, who have now called off protests. While the hunger strike outside Diva station is finally off, it has now led to a fresh debate triggered by commuters from other stations.
Commuter organisation members had been sitting on a hunger strike protest outside Diva station following the Mumbra rail tragedy. “Our protest movement had started in the Diva station premises from July 1. Our demands included local train service from Diva station to Mumbai CSMT, a halt to all fast local trains at Diva, a Panvel-Diva local train service, and the provision of ambulances outside Diva and Mumbra stations,” activist Amol Kendre told mid-day.
“On July 22, senior officials visited us, but no solution was found. On July 24, we visited the office of the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), where officials were positive and said that they would discuss the issue with the Central Railway (CR) management and get back to us within two days,” he explained.
Railway assurances
According to Kendre, on July 29, the DRM office informed the protesting organisations that the new suburban railway timetable was scheduled to be released in September. “In that, it will be planned to halt fast local trains leaving from Kalyan, Dombivli, Ambernath and Titwala at Diva. There was also a positive policy regarding starting a local train service between Diva and Panvel. Also, ambulances will be made available at Diva and Mumbra stations within two months. Following this, we decided to stop the protest,” Kendre said.
However, he added that the next fight will be legal. “We have decided to file a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) against the railways for better services through our lawyers Prabhat Dubey and SS Bhosale, to get the demands of Diva commuters fulfilled.”
‘Will lead to chaos’
Meanwhile, commuters from other stations have raised objections to the demands by Diva commuters. “If a Karjat local or all local trains going far off will halt at Diva, it will become chaotic and create more problems as people won’t be able to board at Thane station,” Dinesh Hele, a commuter, said.
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