Western Railway’s Suburban Service is becoming unsatisfactory

Once upon an era, there was a situation wherein the commuters of western line were appreciating the services provided by western railway on suburban section. It was quite ahead than central suburban service and would be the best in the country. Even it has been said that Japanese have sent some accolades for it. But from the last 4-5 years it is on the losing ground. No doubt, till date it is better than central line, but still the commuters are facing many problems. These problems are majorly faced by the commuters travelling from Virar or beyond Borivali. It is good that they have increased the no of service, but have failed to manage it especially in peak hours when the service management should be at the par. The problems have added more into the picture when the platform nos 7, 8 and 6A started operating at Borivali. Because many Borivali fast locals which were supposed to move on slow track after Andheri are running on fast track and are arriving on platform no 6 or 6A. These locals are running ahead of Virar bound locals which are immediately coming 3-4 minutes behind and are running fast after Andheri as well. But since Borivali locals are taking halt at each station on fast track after Andheri, it affects to the Virar/Vasai/Bhayender Locals which are immediately after the Borivali locals and reaches behind their schedule time to their destinations. At a time, between two Virar locals or any two locals that runs beyond Borivali on thru line are having either two or three Borivali fast locals which halts at all stations after Andheri. In order to resolve the problems occurring for the locals running beyond Borivali, I would request to CPRO or the management of train running system to adopt either of the below given options:

If two Borivali Locals are involve between two Virar/Vasai/Bhayender bound loacls:

• Allow first Borivali local to run in fast track by halting at all stations and move second local on slow track OR
• Make these locals fast by allowing them a halt at any of two from four stations between Andheri and Borivali i.e. first local can take a halt at Jogeshwari and Kandivali and second local can take a halt at Goregaon and Malad OR whatever the othere option for selecting the stations suits best.

If three Borivali locals are involve between two Virar/Vasai/Bhayender bound loacls:

• Allow the first two Borivali locals on fast track by running fast on either two stations as suggested in second option above and move the third local on slow track OR
• Allow the first local to run on fast track by halting at all stations and move the next both the locals on slow track from Andheri. At the same time, have an arrangement for arriving two Andheri locals (OR one Bandra and one Andheri) locals so that these two trains will feel the gap on slow line. However there should not be a Borivali or any other local waiting at platform no 1 at Andheri for crossing of these fast locals on slow line.

This will not only create a space or clear track for Virar local coming from behind, but also would helpful to the people travelling from Borivali locals to reach their home early. Further, anyhow two Borivali trains are taking halt at all four stations between Andheri and Borivali.

Same problem arises when the Borivali – Churchgate bound fast locals runs after Andheri wherein the trains coming from Virar side reach on or before time at Andheri, but then becomes late for giving crossing to Borivali – Churchgate fast locals on thru line. If any local is starting from Malad or Goregaon it adds more problems in it. From last one decade I am facing problem to one local leaving Virar at 7.30 a.m. This train had never reached on time to the stations after Borivali. At Andheri itself it reaches at 8.30-8.35 and runs slow also even after Andheri. Same kind of problem was with the double fast locals for which service have stopped now. These trains were not halting at Borivali and Bandra. When any train was arriving at Andheri, these locals use to wait for 5-7 minutes for giving a crossing to Borivali – Churchgate fast local which have not arrived at Andheri station itself. Why doesn’t the railway management understand that when a particular train has not arrived on time to their respective destinations for whatever reason may be then why you are allowing waiting the other train for more than five minutes when you know that its next station is the last halt? This also affects to the train coming from behind and creates a long traffic queue at every signal. The same case was use to happen on down line when such double fast locals were again waiting at Andheri for giving a crossing to Andheri – Vasai/Virar fast local from platform no 8 or 9. Crossing that line was taking 3-5 minutes including a halt at Borivali for those locals which affects to the double fast coming from behind. When any local is saving the travelling time the railway is creating hurdles in between by putting such services. When you know that by not taking a halt at two major stations time would have saved then why you have allotted the same time to those locals for same distance as like other normal fast locals? What is the use then by introducing such services? You can have either allot their timings after double locals as like normally applied for Mail/Express.

One of the major problems arising these days is of Bhayender locals at the late night time. At Bhayender, railway is having a yard wherein 12-15 rakes can be accommodated. However, every Bhayender local creates problem to Virar or any other local running behind it. In order to allow siding to these empty rakes they are giving a red signal to Virar locals coming either within next 5 minutes or 15 minutes. If any local is coming immediately after 4-5 minutes then why you are not allowing to go ahead to this train and if any local is coming in next 15 minutes then you have ample of time to move a rake for siding. But then too this process gets delayed and allows a local to halt coming behind which get the schedule disturb. At the late night, every commuter is in the consideration to reach home as early as possible. But the current operation happening is of no use due to which train running management is affecting. However, by opting of any below given options commuters will not suffer by running the trains behind their schedule time.

• Allow the Virar local on thru line after Borivali. The same can be brought on slow line at Vasai OR
• Make these Virar locals fast between Andheri and Borivali and allow them to move ahead of Bhayender locals OR
• Adjust the timing or change the track of long distance mail/express such that Virar locals cannot be diverted on slow track after Andheri or Santacruz.e the track of Mail/Eirar locals OR

Another major problem is of the rakes that are operating on western line. Currently, there five types of rakes running on the line i.e. Alstom, Siemens, Bombardier, BHEL and the old retrofitted one. The first four types are having the capacity to run 100 KMPH, but the retrofitted one is not. Besides this along with the retrofitted, the Alstom rakes are having congested compartment having partition in first class. Other than this Alstom, BHEL and retrofitted rakes are not having air blowers which further leads to sweating and suffocation. From Churchgate to Virar there are four dead zones. Whenever any of the BHEL or retrofitted local pass from these sections, the fans and lights remains off for more than a minute which again leads to sweating. Mumbai is giving huge revenue to Indian railways and fulfilling the service with such rakes is not acceptable. Just for the sake of fulfilling the quota of the rakes you cannot add these old rakes into service. Instead of that please bring back the Siemens rakes which have given to central line. Even you can remove old rakes one by one once bombardier rakes are added into the service.

Last but not least and one of the major problem is the track laid down on line number two between Nalasopara to Acholi bridge (nearer to Vasai) and from Vasai to Naigaon are making hell lot of noise when a train passes by. We agree that whenever there is a fishplate or interlocking at a particular section the noise will occur. However, on the said track at least from Nalasopara to Acholi Bridge there is no interlocking point and these noises cross the level of 80 decibels which is a disturbance to the ears. We commuters cannot speak on a phone call by this noise. Also, some of the portion on track number one before Nalasopara station is having same problem. My request to railway officials to change the track that is creating a disturbance to commuters.

So to conclude, if western railway is able to mitigate the above mention problems they would able to operate the better service in the country.