A local train derailed when it moved in reverse direction at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus on Tuesday morning. The accident happened at around 9.40 am but no one was injured however 30 suburban trains of Harbor line were cancelled and seven were partially cancelled between CSMT- Vadala Road and Kurla stations. Apart from that 30 local services of Harbor were delayed up to 15 minutes on the account of this accident.
However, the actual reason for this mishap can be asserted only after the inquiry. According to the sources, prima facie it seems human error. "Possibly motorman gave wrong command by mistake hence the train moved in reverse direction," said an officer of CR adding that the motorman has already been put on suspension and an enquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause.
According to sources, Panvel-bound local train was given a green signal but it moved in the opposite direction. “The CSMT-Panvel (PL-61) local was ready to leave platform number one, but it went in the reverse direction and touched the dead-end of the same platform,” said Shivaji Sutar, Chief Public Relations Officer of CR.
"This resulted in the derailment of one trolley of fourth coach from the rear-end" added Sutar.
After the re-railment work was completed, the platform no. 1 of CSMT was also made available for traffic from 12.11 pm. "After the incidence services from platform number one of CSMT were suspended , which were resumed after two-and-a-half hours ie at 12.11 noon. During the period only one platforms (PF- 2) for the operation of Harbour local services was available at CSMT" said another officials of CR.
"The Harbour Line services usually operate from platform no 1 and 2 at the CSMT. Following the derailment, the local trains were operated only from platform no. 2, affecting suburban services on the corridor" said an officer of CR.
"The Main Line services of CR connects CSMT in south Mumbai to neighbouring Thane city, Kalyan, Kasara and Khopoli were unaffected and running as per schedule during the period, passengers of Harbour line were permitted to travel via Main line on same pass ticket during the time of restoration," he added.
Following the incident, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking operated 10 extra bus services for the convenience of commuters of harbour route. The Harbour Line of Central Railway connects South Mumbai to Navi Mumbai and Panvel in adjoining Raigad district.
The local trains are considered as the lifeline of Mumbai. Nearly 40 lakh commuters travel daily on the CR routes, including 10 lakh on the Harbour line of CR.
However, this is not the first time when such kind of an incident has happened at CSMT. Earlier in August 2019, a local train was rammed into a buffer-stop ( dead end on platform number three of CSMT Station. While, in April 2019 a Belapur-CSMT local train was also dashed into dead end at the CSMT platform number one. In another incident, an empty local train was allegedly run by a guard rammed into the buffer-stop of platform number 5 at CSMT in December 2015.
