New tracks a boon for Central Railway commuters

Chandresh Shah, 50, a stock broker, is one happy man as Central Railway completed the linking of the new 5th and 6th lines to the Kurla goods yard. The railways’ decision will not only help him save his laundry money, but also save him the agony of going to office with soot on his face and clothes.

With the completion of the linking of the new tracks early this week, the coal-laden train that used to travel along the suburban corridor is put on there, taking it far from the local lines.
The coal wagons now enter the new lines from Kurla yard till Thane and are out of the city, by-passing the major suburban corridor.

“The stations, passengers standing on the footboard, those sitting by the windows of local trains used to get smeared with soot as the coal-laden train used to pass the suburban stations and between two local train tracks,” said Shah, who got his shirt smeared with soot twice.

Former railway minister Lalu Yadav had relaxed various norms relating to overloading in loading and unloading wagons, which eventually became one of the factors responsible for more revenue to the railways.

Railway officials said that coal has always been ferried in similar manner. “Across the world, cargo trains carrying coal and other such material are always ferried in open wagons as they need to be tipped over. But because they pass through a passenger corridor, we will suggest them that they should be covered with some protective sheets,” a CR official said on the condition of anonymity.