Things should be back to normal shortly.
The work to set things right on the goods train derailment at Kurla early Monday morning was in its final stages as of 7:00 pm and damaged tracks were being rectified so that it can be made safe for suburban train running. Central Railway officials told DNA that the presence of slums just about two metres away from the derailed goods train was making it tough for heavy-duty equipment to be brought in.
Speaking to DNA, Narendra Patil, chief spokesperson, CR said, "It is a very tough job when you have to unload the derailed goods wagons (containing foodgrains), build the damage tracks patch-by-patch so that a 140-tonne crane can pass over it to lift the derailed wagons. Plus all the wagons have to be first unloaded and the foodgrains kept by the side of the tracks without any wastage. All this has to be done in space that is severely restricted because of slums on the right side of the tracks. We know people have been inconvenienced but we hope they understand the trying circumstances under which this work is being undertaken."
First wagon was tackled at 12:10 pm, second wagon at 1:30 pm and third wagon at 3:50 pm after unloading them. Brake van was re-railed at 5:50 pm. In all 188 suburban services were cancelled however, 142 specials were run during this period.
Patil said that 142 extra services using 6 extra rakes were run between Thane and Vashi on the trans-harbour line, between CST and Wadala, between Kurla and Panvel and between CST-Wadala-Andheri. The BEST deployed 54 buses at Kurla because the section between Kurla and Wadala, among the densest on the Harbour line route, has been out of service since the wagons derailed at around 4:30 am.
"Currently the overhead wire equipment which was lowered, so as to give safe passage to the 30 metre-tall, 140-tonne crane, is being restored to operational height so that local trains can be run on the line the moment we get the all-clear. We believe it should happen in an hour's time," Patil said.
The crowding on the line meanwhile was crushing all through the day and is not expected to ease up till midnight on Monday, said officials.
Harbour line, a poor cousin of the mainline suburban system, on the best of days on Monday may have caused loss of several thousand manhours. "Thousands of people might have either not reached office or might have reached several hours late. The financial implication of such derailments will have to be studied because that is what hits a commercial city like Mumbai the most,' added a senior railway official.
Dn line - towards Kurla and beyond to Vashi - was restored for traffic and first train left GTB Nagar at 8:45 pm. First train crossed the site at 8:07 pm on Up harbour line- towards CST.
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