Platform extension work for 15-coach Mumbai local trains on the Central Railway line was delayed in the early hours after a rail crane became entangled in overhead wires near Khadavali station, officials said.
The work was part of ongoing efforts to extend platforms to accommodate longer trains on the Kasara-Kalyan section in Mumbai division.
According to railway officials, a scheduled block had been granted from 2.45 am to 4 am to carry out the work. However, the operation overran after the crane’s zip wire got caught in the overhead equipment (OHE).
“The crane block was given for platform extension work from 2.45 am to 4 am, but since the crane zip got entangled in the overhead equipment, the block timing was exceeded,” a Central Railway spokesperson said.
An Accident Relief Train (ART) was rushed to the site to manage the situation and help clear the obstruction.
The Central Railway teams worked quickly to resolve the issue, and both lines were cleared by around 5.40 am.
Services return to normal
Train operations resumed soon after, with normal services restored by 6 am, officials said, adding that no injuries were reported in the incident.
The block
The Central Railway had earlier announced that it will operate a 10-hour special traffic and power block on Mumbai suburban sections between the Mulund-Thane and Diva-Dombivli lines from midnight to 10 am on Sunday, March 22, to facilitate platform extension works at Thane and Dombivli stations for accommodating 15-coach trains.
According to a press release issued by Central Railway on Saturday, the block was to be carried out on the UP and DOWN Slow lines between Mulund-Thane and Diva-Dombivli, impacting Mumbai local as well as mail and express services.
The Central Railway had stated that the suburban services would remain cancelled intermittently during the block period. Several DOWN Slow services from Parel and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) between late Saturday night and Sunday morning will be diverted on the Fast line at Mulund and later re-diverted to the Slow line at Thane.
These trains will also skip halts at Kopar and Thakurli stations after being diverted via Diva.
UP Slow services affected
The official statement had stated that the UP Slow services departing Kalyan between late Saturday night and Sunday morning would be diverted on the Fast line and will not halt at Thakurli and Kopar stations. They would be re-diverted between Diva and Thane, and further between Thane and Mulund.
During the block period, fast trains in both directions will make additional halts at Kalva, Mumbra, and Diva stations.
All local train services between Mulund-Thane and Diva-Kalyan would remain suspended during the block window. Additionally, all services originating from or terminating at Dombivali would remain cancelled on Sunday, it had said.
Mail and Express trains affected
It further stated that the Mail and Express trains will also be affected. DOWN trains departing CSMT or Dadar would be diverted via the fifth line between Vidyavihar/Thane and Kalyan, while UP trains heading towards CSMT/Dadar would be diverted via the sixth line between Kalyan and Thane/Vidyavihar.
