On Tuesday evening, a goods train carrying iron coils derailed at Palghar railway station in Maharashtra, causing significant disruption to train services. The Western Railway announced that three trains have been fully cancelled as a result of the incident. These are the Dahanu Road-Panvel-Vasai Road train, the Vasai Road-Panvel-Vasai Road train, and the Vasai Road-Panvel-Dahanu Road train.
The Incident
The derailment occurred around 5:10 PM on Tuesday. Seven wagons of the goods train, which was traveling from Visakhapatnam to Karambeli in Gujarat, went off the tracks at Palghar. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported. However, the derailed wagons and the heavy iron coils they were carrying caused extensive damage to the tracks and overhead equipment.
Impact on Train Services
The damage to the tracks and equipment was significant enough to halt the movement of trains on the busy Mumbai-Delhi trunk route. This disruption affected both long-distance trains and the Western Railway’s suburban trains in the Mumbai region, leading to inconvenience for thousands of commuters.
Several long-distance trains had to be diverted. The 12936 Surat-Mumbai Intercity train was terminated at Vapi, while other trains such as the 16505 Gandhidham-SBC (KSR Bengaluru) Express, 12432 Nizamuddin-Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express, and 19260 Bhavnagar-Kochuveli Express were rerouted via Surat, Udhna, Jalgaon, and Kalyan.
Cancellation of Local Trains
In addition to the diverted long-distance trains, the Western Railway had to cancel three local train services. The cancelled trains are:
- Dahanu Road-Panvel-Vasai Road
- Vasai Road-Panvel-Vasai Road
- Vasai Road-Panvel-Dahanu Road
The Western Railway expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to passengers due to these cancellations. Efforts are underway to restore normal train services as quickly as possible, but the extent of the damage means that full restoration could take several hours.
Assistance and Helpline Numbers
To assist passengers affected by the derailment and subsequent disruptions, the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Mumbai Central has issued several helpline numbers. These numbers are available for passengers to seek assistance and information regarding the current status of train services. The helpline numbers are:
- Vapi: 02267649545
- Surat: 02267641204, 02612401797
- Valsad: 02632241903
- Udhna: 02267641801
- Virar: 02267639025
- Palghar: 02267649706
- Vapi: 02602462341
- Surat: 02612401797
Passengers can contact these numbers to get updates on train services and other assistance they might need during this period of disruption. Additionally, help desks have been set up at Surat, Valsad, Vapi, Udhna Junction, Palghar, and Boisar stations to provide further support.
Ongoing Efforts
Railway officials and maintenance crews are working tirelessly to repair the damage caused by the derailment. The priority is to restore the tracks and overhead equipment to enable the resumption of normal train services. Given the extent of the damage, it is expected that the restoration process will take several hours.
Passengers are advised to stay informed about the status of their trains through the helpline numbers and announcements made by railway authorities. It is also recommended to check for updates online or at railway stations before starting their journey.
Conclusion
The derailment of the goods train at Palghar has caused significant disruption to train services in the region. With several long-distance trains being diverted and three local trains cancelled, passengers are facing considerable inconvenience. However, the Western Railway and other railway authorities are actively working to mitigate the impact and restore normalcy as soon as possible.
For now, passengers are encouraged to make use of the helpline numbers and help desks set up at various stations for any assistance they may require. The railway authorities appreciate the patience and cooperation of passengers during this challenging time and are committed to ensuring the safety and convenience of all travelers.
