127 Trains Cancelled as Bridge Work Disrupts Western Railway Service
Western Railway has announced a significant disruption to suburban and long-distance train services on the nights of 24th/25th January and 25th/26th January. The affected stretch lies between Mahim and Bandra, where the reconstruction of a vital bridge is set to take place, necessitating the suspension of several local services.
During these two nights, a total of 127 trains will be cancelled on 24th January, while around 150 trains will be impacted on 25th January. In addition, about 60 services will experience partial cancellations. The block will span the slow lines between Mahim and Bandra from 11:00 PM on Friday, 24th January, to 8:30 AM on Saturday, 25th January. Furthermore, the down fast line will be completely closed from 12:30 AM to 6:30 AM during this window. The second phase of the block will commence on the night of 25th January, beginning at 11:00 PM and lasting until 8:30 AM on 26th January. Both the UP and Down Slow lines, as well as the Down Fast line, will be affected during this period. The decision to carry out these works during the late-night hours has been taken to minimise the disruption to daily commuters.
To alleviate the impact, Western Railway has devised alternative routes for several trains. Slow trains departing from Churchgate will operate on the fast corridor between Mumbai Central and Santacruz, bypassing certain stations along the way. Similarly, trains departing from Virar, Bhayandar, and Borivali will run on the fast track between Santacruz and Mumbai Central. Moreover, on the morning of 25th January, trains from suburban areas like Virar, Nalasopara, and Borivali will terminate at Andheri. The first fast local from Virar after the block will leave at 5:47 AM, while the first down fast local from Churchgate will depart at 6:14 AM.
While the disruption has been timed to minimise the inconvenience to daily travellers, the impact on long-distance trains is also significant, with services delayed or diverted. The local railway authority has appealed to passengers to check the revised train schedule and make alternate travel arrangements. Western Railway officials confirmed that most suburban services will remain unaffected during the daytime, with the major disruptions occurring only during the late-night block periods. Nonetheless, commuters are advised to plan their journeys with care, given the extensive modifications to train schedules.
