Mumbai rain: CR and WR operate fewer local trains with speed restrictions

Railway authorities were helped as most of Mumbaiites chose to stay indoors and intensity of rain slackened on Wednesday.

A day after several local services were suspended and delayed, Western Railway (WR) and Central Railway (CR) operated fewer trains, which were running late by up to 30 minutes and with restricted speed.

Commuters cross tracks in Mumbai on Wednesday. (Pratik Chorge)

Railway authorities were helped as most of Mumbaiites chose to stay indoors and intensity of rain slackened on Wednesday.

Because of overnight downpour, tracks were submerged and on Wednesday morning, water receded, allowing trains to operate.

After water receded to safe level, CR’s main line services started first, followed by harbour line around 6am. Trains between Nallasopara and Virar stations resumed around 7am.

CR authorities reduced the number trains by 20% to maintain punctuality and diverted, rescheduled and cancelled long distance services. On the western line, a technical snag on local train on the transharbour route had a domino effect and delayed other trains by 40 minutes in the morning.

A source said that train operation will be normal till Thursday morning, provided there was no late night rain.

Railway authorities have already announced that a few long distance trains, including Deccan Express and Sinhagad Express, will remain cancelled .

The long distance trains were running with a delay of an hour. Premium trains such as Rajdhani and August Kranti Express reached Mumbai an hour late.

The BEST buses were also not operated in their full strength. Of the 3,401 buses, 3,193 were operational. As many as 34 buses broke down due to heavy rain.