CR raises tracks at Thane to reduce water-logging

After last week’s flood at Thane station, the Central Railway is undertaking lifting of tracks, crossovers machine points at the station.

After last week’s flood at Thane station, the Central Railway is undertaking lifting of tracks, crossovers machine points at the station.

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Apparently, route relay interlocking (RRI), undertaken at the station in January, damaged the drain at the CST end at Thane (West), causing floods and disruption in services last week. RRI is a process whereby the signal apparatus is re-arranged to prevent conflicting train movements.

However, railways blamed the heavy rainfall for the flooding. “Last week saw heavy rainfall. We had put a new RRI that includes 43 crossovers, at new locations, which were exposed to the rains. After studying the problem, we have now lifted the tracks and machine points to ensure the problem is not repeated,” said Mukesh Nigam, divisional railway manager (DRM), Mumbai division.

When asked about the damaged drain, Nigam added, “The drain at the CST end appears to be damaged which caused water-logging.” Last week, water-logging at various spots severely affected suburban railway services for three days. On Saturday, the evening peak-hour services were affected due to flooding at Bhandup, Thane and Kanjurmarg. On Sunday, 21 services were cancelled after water-logging caused the signal to malfunction.