Western Railway trains can chug on skip-halt basis: Kailash Verma

The withdrawal of four train services from Andheri, as part of the new rail timetable, has given the Western Railway an opportunity to run trains on a cyclical pattern. Passenger associations said that the railway authorities can try the new ‘skip-halt’ method during non-peak hours, at least initially. The idea of a cyclical timetable is nearly a decade-old when it was first proposed wherein certain fast trains shall skip important stations and make halt at smaller stations; in a rotational manner.

This would mean that only a few trains will not halt at important stations and stop at  smaller stations, instead, that are moderately crowded. Currently, the Central Railway has such a format where during peak and non-peak hours some fast trains stop at Mulund and Vikhroli alternately. 

“The WR authorities could try this ‘skip-halt’ pattern between Churchgate and Andheri. For instance they can give halt to a fast train at Lower Parel after Grant Road and skip one at Mumbai Central. There is no harm trying,” said Kailash Verma, member, Mumbai Rail Yatri Sangh.

From November 3, the WR authorities have stopped giving halts at Andheri station to four train services that start from Malad or Goregaon. Initially, six train services, including these four, would not halt at the Jogeshwari station as part of the new rail timetable that started from November 1. However, locals from Jogeshwari protested saying that it was leading to an overly crowded platform during peak hours. The WR authorities then, decided to give halts at both Jogeshwari and Andheri stations for two trains and skip halts for four trains at Andheri.

“A typical cyclical timetable is quite complex; however, the rail authorities can try it during non-peak hours where train services are less,” said Subhash Gupta, president, Rail Yatri Parishad.

Monday happens to be the first weekday since the revision in the new timetable was made. The WR authorities and passengers hope that this does not cause too much chaos at the Andheri station.