Fog Disrupts Mumbai Rail Services Despite Fog Safety Devices; Commuters Face Delays
Mumbai, 4th January 2024: The Central Railway administration in Mumbai has implemented fog safety devices to facilitate high-speed operations for local and railway trains during the winter season’s dense fog. Despite these measures, incidents of service stoppages and delays have been reported.
Thick fog in the Mumbai section of Central Railway on Thursday morning resulted in local trains running 20 to 25 minutes late, while long-distance trains operated at high speeds, causing potential safety concerns. Western Railway locals also experienced delays.
The drop in minimum temperature and atmospheric changes led to dense fog in Mumbai, impacting visibility and causing delays in both local and express train services. Locals on the Central Railway express lines were delayed by 10 to 20 minutes, while express trains faced delays of 30 to 40 minutes. Western Railway locals were running 10 to 15 minutes behind schedule.
Train services were disrupted in multiple sections, including Dahanu, Vasai, Virar, Kasara – Titwala, and Karjat – Ambernath from 4 am on Thursday. Commuters towards Churchgate, Mumbai Central, Bandra, CSMT, and LTT faced delays throughout the morning, leading to overcrowded local stations.
Despite the use of fog safety devices allowing speeds of up to 75 kmph, the Thursday incident raised doubts about their effectiveness. The Central Railway clarified that these devices aim to reduce delays and improve punctuality, but the challenges posed by the dense fog persist.
Due to altered schedules on Western Railway, passengers missed usual locals, causing frustration among commuters who were unaware of the timing changes.
