Unauthorised chain pulling on Central Railway disrupted suburban and long-distance services on Monday, with seven incidents reported across the network and several local trains delayed behind detained services. Railway officials said the incidents involved passengers attempting to board packed trains and urged commuters to use emergency chains only during genuine emergencies.
The first incident was reported at Kalyan station in the morning, when the emergency chain of the Gorakhpur Express (20103), travelling from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, was pulled between 5.27am and 5.41am. The train remained stationary for 14 minutes. The stoppage affected five local trains in both the up and down directions, according to the report.
A similar incident occurred during the morning peak on a Titwala local travelling between Vidyavihar and Kurla. Its emergency chain was pulled between 9.18am and 9.22am, delaying the service and inconveniencing commuters using the suburban corridor.
Further incidents were reported around Kalyan later in the day. The emergency chain of the Godan Express (11055) was pulled between 12.07pm and 12.16pm. The Pawan Express (11061) was then held up between 12.41pm and 12.53pm, while the LTT-Mau weekly express (15182) was detained between Kalyan and Shahad after its chain was pulled between 12.34pm and 12.47pm.
The Udyan Express (11301) was affected twice at Kalyan. Its emergency chain was pulled in the seventh and 11th coaches between 1.15pm and 1.22pm. The incident also affected local trains operating behind the express service.
Central Railway recorded seven chain-pulling incidents involving both suburban and long-distance trains during the day. No offender was apprehended in any of the cases reported. The incidents occurred as trains were carrying passengers travelling to their native places, with some commuters reportedly pulling emergency chains to board services.
Railway officials said unauthorised chain pulling affects more than the train in which it occurs. When a service is stopped, trains operating behind it can also be delayed, creating a cascading impact across the timetable. This is particularly significant on busy corridors where suburban and long-distance services share railway infrastructure and operate in close succession.
The incidents also show how a brief stoppage can spread beyond an individual platform or train. The Gorakhpur Express stoppage at Kalyan, for example, affected five local trains in each direction, while the Udyan Express incident delayed local services following the train. The reported disruptions therefore extended to passengers who were not travelling on the trains where the chains were pulled.
Railway authorities have urged passengers not to use the emergency chain as a boarding aid. The chain is intended for genuine emergencies, and its unauthorised operation can interrupt scheduled services and inconvenience commuters across the network. Central Railway’s reported incidents involved trains at Kalyan, Shahad, Vidyavihar and Kurla, with the affected services including local trains, express trains and a weekly long-distance service.
