210 train services to be hit this X’mas weekend

Thirty years after the rail authorities proposed to connect Mumbai with Raigad through Seawoods-Uran Railway line; the Central Railway (CR) will kick off its first huge mega block this month. Ten lakh commuters on the Harbour line and 2 lakh commuters using the Trans-Harbour line will be affected by this super mega block as the authorities are expected to cancel around 210 train services between December 22-25. On December 14, the block carried out for carrying out this project-related work was delayed which disrupted services on Harbour line.

During the next four days, the CR authorities will carry out work on the most crucial element of this 28-km suburban rail line during non-peak hours due to which 64 services will get cancelled.

These cancellations will be mainly between Nerul-Panvel section on which on a regular day, 256 services ply on this route. “We will carry out work near Belapur station which is very crucial for this project,” said SK Jain, Divisional Railway Manager (Mumbai), Central Railway.

On December 24, 12 services will be cancelled. During this period, Nerul station will remain affected which will also hit services on the Trans Harbour section towards Thane. Trains will, however, be available between Vashi and Thane during this period.

Sources said that they are working on laying tracks on a new tunnel towards Kile station. The most important block would be from the night of December 24. Services will begin at 2 am and end at 3 pm on the day of Christmas when 124 services on Harbour line and 40 services on Trans Harbour section will be cancelled.

CANCELLATIONS

• These cancellations will be mainly between Nerul-Panvel section; 256 services ply on this route on a daily basis
   
• Trains will, however, be available between Vashi and Thane
   
• On December 25, 124 services on Harbour line and 40 services on Trans Harbour section will be cancelled.