Chaos on CR network

Forty-four train services on Central Railway’s fast and slow lines were cancelled due to three separate incidents leading to chaos at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) on Tuesday, reports HT Correspondent.

Forty-four train services on Central Railway’s fast and slow lines were cancelled due to three separate incidents leading to chaos at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) on Tuesday.

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A 3-tier AC coach of Jabalpur-bound Garib Rath Express derailed between Kalyan and Shahad at 2.40 pm. Although there were no casualties, the suburban train schedule went for a toss, leading to unscheduled halts and cancellation of trains.

“One of the coaches of Garib Rath derailed after leaving Kalyan station after a 3-minute halt. The local trains starting from CST were late by 10-15 minutes on the main line. An inquiry will be conducted,” said CR chief PRO, S Mudgerikar.

The derailment may have been due to axle breakage.

The Garib Rath Express started from CST at 1.30 pm.

Ten minutes after it left Kalyan, the fourth coach from the engine derailed.

Soon the local trains on that route were stopped and many going towards Kasara were terminated at Kalyan.

The engine and the first three coaches of Garib Rath was detached and taken to Khadavali station while the rest of the train was taken to Kalyan station.

By evening constant announcements were made of cancellations of train towards Asangaon, Titwala and Kasara.

The passengers were accommodated in the unaffected bogies and the train left Kalyan at 7.20 pm.

In another incident near Wadala, a goods train uncoupled – the hook connecting two bogies detach from each other – at 1.30 pm.

“Train services on Up and Down lines (towards CST and Vashi) were hit. They were running late by half an hour but situation was normal in the evening,” added Mudgerikar.

About six train services were cancelled on the Harbour line.

At 11.18 am in Thane, smoke billowed from a CST-bound train from Kalyan because of a ‘break-binding’ problem — this occurs when the wheels of trains don’t come to a stop even after brakes are applied.

The friction caused generates smoke and can be dangerous as the train fails to halt at the right time.

The train was cancelled and taken to Kalwa car shed for inspection. This resulted in delay of train services by 15 minutes.

“The rail traffic is expected to come back to normal by 10 pm today,” said Mudgerikar.