Mumbai: A major infrastructure milestone for Mumbai’s suburban rail network was achieved on Sunday with the formal authorisation of the newly constructed Broad Gauge 5th and 6th railway lines between Kandivali and Borivali for public passenger services and freight operations.
With the completion of this project, Western Railway is expected to introduce 10 to 12 additional suburban services on the corridor shortly . Officials said the new lines will significantly enhance line capacity, improve punctuality and ease congestion on one of Mumbai’s busiest suburban stretches.
Speed Trials
According to a Western Railway official, long-distance trains entering Mumbai can now reach Bandra Terminus without interfering with suburban services between Borivali and Khar Road.
Now, a separate corridor is available for Bandra Terminus-bound trains between Borivali and Khar Road, which will operate on the newly laid 5th and 6th lines,” the official said.
The official added that fast local trains between Khar Road and Borivali will also benefit from having a more dedicated path, reducing delays and improving overall reliability.
The 3.21-kilometre-long section forms part of the Mumbai Central–Borivali 6th Line Project of Western Railway and received statutory clearance following a detailed inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Western Circle, Mumbai on Sunday.
Railway authorities noted that caution orders will remain in force for a few days, as is standard practice for newly commissioned tracks. Trains will initially operate at reduced speeds on the new section, with full permissible speeds being allowed after close monitoring and observation of track behaviour.
The CRS inspection was carried out on January 18 and covered the entire stretch between Kandivali and Borivali. The newly laid 5th and 6th lines were examined through motor trolley and foot inspections, followed by speed trials using electric locomotives.
During the trials, the 5th line was tested with WAP-7 locomotive No. 30246, which reached speeds of up to 85 kmph without any peak exceeding prescribed safety limits.
Operating Limits
Based on the completion and safety certificates submitted by the Engineering, Signalling & Telecommunication, Electrical and other concerned departments, along with visual and sample checks of the newly created section, the CRS concluded the inspection on Sunday.
"Authorisation has been granted for regular operations with a maximum permissible speed of 70 kmph on the new 5th line (down direction), 80 kmph on the new 6th line (up direction), and 15 kmph on loop lines, or the speed prescribed in the Joint Safety Certificate, whichever is lower" said an official.
Passenger Impact
The section has also been cleared for a maximum axle load of 23 tonnes.
However, the authorisation is subject to strict compliance with several safety and operational conditions before the commencement of full commercial services. These include certification of points and crossings, inspection and strengthening of bridges, rectification of track geometry defects, removal of infringements to the Schedule of Dimensions, completion of signalling and interlocking works, and the imposition of speed restrictions wherever required.
The Railway has also been directed to address specific civil, signalling, electrical and track-related deficiencies observed during the inspection. These include ballast recoupment, turnout corrections, de-stressing of rails, and improvement in signal visibility.
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