A day after a coach of a local train derailed near the CSMT platform, affecting the services on the Harbour line, an empty rake on trial run on the spot that was under repair derailed on Wednesday afternoon. While no one was injured, 20 services were cancelled and several services were delayed by 30-35 minutes, officials said, adding that the services resumed at 7.41 pm.
According to officials, the incident took place around 4.30 pm, during the trial run of an empty rake near the CSMT platform no 2, attending to a defective spot where a coach of a CSMT-bound train derailed on Monday, approximately 50 metres away from platform number 2.
Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Dr Swapnil Nila told The Indian Express, “In a bid to carry out the repairs, a railway block had been announced earlier. The work was underway since the previous night and it was completed by 4 pm Wednesday, after which an empty rake was run on trial. However, two wheels of the rake got derailed on the same spot.” Nila said no injuries were reported in the incident.
Due to the incident, train services were briefly suspended between CSMT and Wadala. “Due to some unavoidable circumstances, local trains in Harbour line sections are suspended between CSMT — Vadala Road. Passengers are permitted to travel via the Mainline between CSMT and Kurla section in up and down direction,” the Mumbai division of Central Railway posted on X after the incident.
According to the CR official, nearly 20 services were cancelled. However, the services between the two stations resumed from platform number 3. “Since there was already a railway block underway, we had the margin. We were running adequate trains with the locals for Panvel line being run on platform number 3,” added the official.
However, several trains were delayed by 30-35 minutes, with several commuters complaining on social media.
While the cause for the Monday mishap is still being investigated, the CPRO said, “The incident on Wednesday occurred during the trial run and at the same spot. We will attend to this incident and carry out the work at night.”