Snag disrupts Thane-Panvel trains

An overhead wire snapped between Thane and Airoli, more than 30 services cancelled

The trans-harbour services between Thane and Panvel were hit during the peak hour on Friday morning after an overhead wire snapped between Thane and Airoli.

This was the second disruption on the trans-harbour line this month.

More than 30 trains between Thane and Panvel were cancelled, leading to a huge chaos at Thane station. Office-goers had to face immense inconvenience, most of whom chose to walk on the tracks back to Thane station and go Navi Mumbai through Kurla.

Around 6.50am on Friday, the snag occurred near km 38/ 8, near the Thane Khadi bridge, when a local train from Thane was moving towards Airoli.

Both up and down services were affected after the incident.

Commuters were seen stranded not only on Thane but also on Airoli, Rabale, Ghansoli, Kopar Khairane and Turbhe stations. More than three lakh commuters who travel on the route daily were affected due to the incident.

An officer from Thane station requesting anonymity said, “There are only two lines on trans-harbour route. After the OHW snapped, the power supply on the entire stretch was cut off. We had to cancel 30 trains on this line.”

Services resumed within two hours. “We had requested the Thane and Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport to provide additional buses from Cidco and Vandana bus stops in Thane to Vashi and Panvel,” he said.

He added that people were also allowed to travel from Kurla on the same pass or ticket.

“Announcements were also made, asking people to take alternative route till the services are resumed,” he said.

The services were resumed at There was chaos at Thane station after trains to Panvel were cancelled during morning peak hours on Friday. Commuters walk on the track from Thane railway station

8.25am, after which, commuters flocked back to the stations.

On Friday, commuters were seen crowding bus stops where the Thane and Navi Mumbai municipal transport had arranged for extra buses.

Most complained of autorickshaws taking advantage of the situation and charging exorbitant fare from commuters.

Nilofer Shaikh, 24, a commuter said, “The trans- harbour line is reliable compared to the central or harbour line. However this is the second time that services were hit. I travel to Vashi for work every morning. Today I went to the auto rickshaw stand to take an auto. The driver demanded Rs600 to Rs700 which is much more than the actual fare which is merely Rs300 to Rs400.”

Shaikh chose to go by bus instead of relying on train or autorickshaws.

This is the second incident of train disruption this month. On April 4, over 50 trains were cancelled when an overhead wire snapped on this line.