On Friday morning after an overhead equipment (OHE) snag and a point failure disrupted operations during the peak rush hours, Western Railway’s suburban train services were delayed by around 10 to 15 minutes The OHE snag occurred on the down-fast line between Dadar and Churchgate stations at around 6 am.
Vande Bharat Train Briefly Halted
The Ahmedabad-bound Vande Bharat Express departed from Mumbai Central station but came to a halt after encountering the OHE power supply disruption. Railway officials said the OHE issue was rectified by around 7.22 am.
Point Failure Causes Fresh Delays
Soon after the OHE fault was resolved, a train crossing point failure occurred at Churchgate station between 8.10 am and 8.40 am. The second technical issue further affected train movement on both the up and down lines, delaying suburban services during the morning rush. Although both faults were rectified, local train services continue to run around 10 to 15 minutes behind schedule.
A commuter travelling from Virar to Marine Lines said Churchgate-bound local trains were bunching up and taking longer than usual to reach their destinations. Some Central Railway passengers also complained of delays towards CSMT due to a point failure near Kalyan station. However, there was no official confirmation from Central Railway.
Passengers Criticise Lack Of Communication
While services is gradually being restored, several commuters criticised Western Railway over what they described as a lack of timely communication during the disruption. Passengers alleged that there were no prompt updates on the railway’s official social media platforms despite the disruption continuing for several hours. Many said they were unaware of the reason for the delays until they reached overcrowded platforms or found trains halted between stations.
Calls For Better Passenger Updates
Some commuters also criticised the lack of announcements inside trains and at stations. One commuter questioned why no updates were shared on official social media despite railway authorities being aware of the disruption. Another commuter said there were no announcements inside the train by the driver or guard, adding that passengers were left to figure out the situation on their own.
Services Gradually Return To Normal
The communication gap led to confusion at several stations, with many passengers unsure whether to wait for delayed trains, switch to other modes of transport or postpone their journeys. The disruption affected thousands of office-goers and students travelling on Mumbai’s Western suburban corridor during one of the busiest hours of the day. While services have since stabilised, commuters have urged Western Railway to improve real-time passenger information, public announcements and social media updates during such operational emergencies.