Five major blocks likely to disrupt train services till October

The first block is scheduled for the night of August 31-September 1 and will last 10 hours. During this period, approximately 150 suburban services will be cancelled, 60 will be short-terminated, and 50-60 trains will face delays. Further blocks are planned for the nights of September 7-8, September 21-22, September 28-29, and October 5-6, resulting in more cancellations, delays, and short terminations.

On the night of September 28-29, non-interlocking work on the fifth line between Goregaon and Kandivali will also be carried out, causing 40-45 minute delays for trains departing from Bandra Terminus.

To minimize inconvenience during the Ganeshotsav festival, WR has confirmed that no work will be done during this period.

Once the sixth line becomes operational, it will help ease congestion on the existing fifth line, which handles all Bandra Terminus-bound trains between Goregaon and Borivali. The additional line will allow for separate up and down tracks, improving train punctuality for both long-distance and suburban services.

The Churchgate to Virar route spans approximately 60 km. Currently there are four lines between Churchgate and Mumbai Central, five between Mumbai Central and Mahim, four between Mahim and Khar, and six from Bandra Terminus to Malad. Between Malad and Borivali, there are five lines, with the sixth line between Malad and Kandivali under construction. WR commissioned a nine-km stretch of the fifth and sixth lines between Khar and Goregaon last November, though a missing link between Mahim and Khar remains unresolved due to land acquisition issues.