Women’s special timetable on harbour line to be tweaked

MUMBAI: Following requests from passenger groups, Central Railway (CR) has decided to tweak the timetable for four women’s special trains on the Harbour line starting next month.

This is largely to widen the gap between two women’s special trains in a bid to benefit more commuters. CR officials said there would be minor changes in the running time of suburban trains on the harbour and trans-harbour line once the new timetable comes into effect, probably from January 26. Cst-panvel trains may take 2-3 minutes more to cover the distance — from Wadala station onwards — while trans-harbour trains from Thane could take a couple of minutes less.

In the wake of the public outrage over the death of 21-yearold Dombivli resident Bhavesh Nakate, who fell from an overcrowded train on November 27, railway authorities have proposed to add around 40 new suburban services as a shortterm measure. Presently, CR is operating 1,618 suburban services. Of these, 825 ply on the main line, 583 on the harbour line and 210 on the trans-harbour line. According to the proposed timetable, Panvel-cst women’s special trains will depart at 8.22am instead of 8.50am from Panvel and Cst-panvel women’s special will depart at 6.05pm instead of 6.01pm, from CST. Partial women’s special will depart from Panvel for CST at 8.00am instead of 8.12am, while women’s special from CST to Panvel will depart at 6.26pm instead of 6.12pm.

In a new proposed suburban timetable of the harbour line according to sources, railway authorities have planned to increase the running time of Panvel-bound suburban trains by 2-3 minutes because of the 15kmph speed restriction between Wadala station and Raoli Junction.

Sources said the running time of Thane-vashi trains on the trans-harbour corridor may also go up by a minute.