Rail fracture delays trains

Mumbai: Train services on Western railways (WR) line were disrupted on Saturday following a rail fracture between Umroli Road and Boisar railway stations. Trains heading towards Churchgate station were delayed by 20 to 25 minutes. 

The crack was detected at around 7.50 am by two gatemen who alerted the railway department. Immediately, all the trains headed towards Churchgate from Dahanu and Borivali were halted, and a team of maintenance staff was rushed to the spot to repair the fracture. By noon, the train services were running on the stretch where the crack was detected. However, the motormen were asked to operate slowly. 

Ravinder Bhakar, the chief public relations officer (CPRO) of Westetn Railway said, “These type of fractures keep occurring in the railway tracks. This one was caused due to differences in temperature. However, it was immediately attended by our team.”

According to sources, the fracture was caused due to dramatic temperature fluctuations and low temperatures at night.   A WR railway official confirmed the fracture and the delay caused due to it. The WR is likely to issue appreciation certificates to the two alert gatemen. The railway official said the faulty track would be replaced after a small mega block.     

A similar kind of delay was witnessed at the Central Railway on Friday late night after a fire broke out in one of the coaches of a local train halted at Dadar station. Even though the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Disaster Management doused the fire immediately, and no injuries were reported, the CR line saw a delay in their service by 45 to 50 minutes. According to CR spokesperson, the fire began underneath the coach due to brake binding. It is a technical problem in which the brake gets jammed, leading to friction, fire and smoke. 

Due to this incident, slow trains were diverted to the fast line between Byculla and Kurla on Friday.