By month-end, better services on western line

By the end of this month, commuters on Western Railway (WR) will have better train services, reports Shashank Rao.

By the end of this month, commuters on Western Railway (WR) will have better train services.

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The WR will completing two major projects--the conversion of DC [direct current] lines to AC [alternating current] and the construction of an additional platform at Borivli--that will improve services.

All traction between between Borivli and Virar will be converted from 1,500-volt DC to 25,000-volt AC section under phase-I, by February-end.

“The DC traction is being phased out from the suburban train line because it won’t be able to take the increasing load of commuters, affecting speed and electricity consumption,” said a WR official, requesting anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

After conversion, the WR will be able to increase services because trains would run faster under the new lines. “We are tentatively keeping the deadline to complete this work by February 28. We will have a six-hour mega block that day,” said WR Divisional Railway Manager Girish Pillai.

The second project — extending platform 6, constructing a new platform 6A and laying an additional track for Rs 31 crore at Borivli — will also be completed by February 20.

Workers are busy giving finishing touches to a new subway, building a roof for platform 6A and connecting it with a foot over bridge. The authorities also had to shift crossovers — used by trains to switch tracks —on platform numbers 4, 5 and 6 to accommodate the new track on platform 6A.

“The work is being completed as per schedule and there is no delay, except when we had to shift the crossovers,” said an official from WR requesting anonymity.