Mega block, rains affect rail services

The rains and mega blocks affected train services on the Central, Western and Harbour line on Sunday.

The rains and mega blocks affected train services on the Central, Western and Harbour line on Sunday.

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Trains were running late by around ten minutes, chiefly due to the mega block operated by the Western and Central Railway.

On the Western line, the rains slowed down trains but no waterlogging on tracks was reported. Railway authorities have installed more than 30 water pumps at several locations to pump out water. In the afternoon, train services were hit due to a mega block operated between Andheri and Mahim. Due to the block, Churchgate-Andheri services were partially cancelled.

“Trains were affected by the block and not due to rains. There were hardly any delays,” said S Chandrayan, chief PRO, Western Railway.

On the Central line, the mega block was operated between 11am and 4pm on the fast corridor between Mulund and Matunga. During this period, 30% of the total train services plying on the Central line were cancelled.

In the afternoon, the rainfall and strong wind resulted in trains running slowly after Kalyan. “The overhead cables were swinging violently due to the windy rains. Trains deliberately ran slowly to prevent any entanglement with the pantograph,” said a senior railway official on condition of anonymity. Fast trains were diverted to the slow line and halted at all stations till Sion.