Mumbai: Local train services on Mumbai’s Western Line were delayed on Wednesday, April 16, due to speed restrictions imposed between Bandra and Mahim stations. The move, which has affected thousands of daily commuters, has led to major disruptions in travel and sparked frustration among office-goers.
WR Shares Update On Delay In Train Services
Trains running on the section that crosses the Mithi River are currently operating at a drastically reduced speed of 20–30 kilometres per hour. The slow movement has resulted in delays of up to 15 minutes for suburban trains, throwing the schedules of fast and slow locals alike into disarray. The Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of the Mumbai Division of Western Railway confirmed the delay and offered an apology for the inconvenience.
Commuters Share Frustration On X
“This is causing chaos in people’s routines. A fast train from Andheri to Bandra is taking more than 30 minutes. What nonsense is this? The fast train is running slower than a slow one!” a frustrated commuter wrote on social media. Another appealed to the authorities saying, “Please restore normalcy at the earliest.”
The current speed limit is temporary and will be gradually increased to 45 kilometres per hour by the end of the week, officials said. The reason for the restriction is the recent overhaul of the old railway bridge over the Mithi River. Built during the British era, the bridge was supported by cast iron screw piles that were no longer considered structurally reliable. These have now been replaced with modern steel girders to enhance safety.
About WR Night Block Between Mahim-Bandra
The reconstruction work was carried out during the night blocks on Friday and Saturday. Each night, services were suspended for 9.5 hours, during which critical engineering tasks were completed. Over the course of these blocks, a total of 334 local train services were cancelled to facilitate the smooth execution of the project.
While the upgrade was essential for long-term safety and reliability, the ongoing delays have hit Mumbai’s fast-paced working population hard. Western Railway assured commuters that the situation will improve steadily and normal operations are expected to resume once the new bridge structure stabilizes under regular traffic. Until then, commuters have been advised to plan their journeys with the delays in mind.
