Commuters on Central Railway’s Harbour Line, which is a vital link between the Navi Mumbai and the Western Suburbs of Mumbai, faced significant disruptions during Thursday’s morning peak hours, as delays plagued commuters.

The chaos was attributed to the imposition of a speed restriction of 10 kmph for local trains at the crossover point near CSMT station, a site that witnessed two derailments in the span of just three days this week.

In a statement to the media, Central Railway’s chief public relations officer, Swapnil Nila, informed that the speed restriction was enforced at the crossover point where the recent derailments recently occurred, resulting in delays in suburban services along the Harbour Line. According to a CR official who does not wish to be named, local trains on the route were running 25 to 30 minutes behind their usual schedule due to bunching, while commuters reported delays of at least 45 to 50 minutes. Many of the commuters shared pictures on X (formerly known as Twitter) and also vented their frustration by tagging the relevant railway authorities such as @drmmumbaicr, @Central_Railway, and @GM_CRly

The Harbour Line is a vital artery for the city, catering to around ten lakh commuters daily and serving as a key link between South Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. However, the recent derailments have severely impacted travel for passengers relying on this corridor.

On May 1, at 5:30 p.m., a tweet from Central Railways stated, “Two wheels of an empty rake while doing trial after attending the defective spot got derailed near CSMT. Local trains between CSMT & Vadala Road are affected. Inconvenience is deeply regretted.”

Despite efforts to address the situation, including a five-hour operational halt on Wednesday, May 1, for repairs, commuters continued to face delays in train services for more than 30 to 40 minutes on May 2. The ongoing disruptions have sparked frustration among passengers, many of whom took to social media to voice their grievances.

Priyanka Deshmukh, an officegoer who lives at Cotton Green and travels to Belapur C.B.D for work daily said, “The delay of suburban services on the Harbour line is very concerning as it shows the apathy of the railway authorities. There have been two derailments in one week. This must be investigated thoroughly. The Harbour Line is the most neglected railway line in the city. It is frustrating to see trains running so far behind schedule and the long wait which adds to overcrowding.”

Harsh Gupta, another commuter said, “It is very disappointing to see the Harbour Line, which serves as a lifeline for so many commuters, facing such neglect. Today most of the locals are cancelled, from Wadala Station, Platform No. 2 Panvel trains and CSMT to Bandra train are cancelled. We rely on these trains to get to work and go about our daily lives, the last three days have been an eye-opener have the central railway authorities taken their duties for granted. They are answerable to the genuine public and must take responsibility for the falling standards on the harbour line. It is a truly the ignored line by central railways.”

Rail authorities have assured commuters that measures are being taken to resolve the issue promptly. However, with cancellations affecting multiple routes, commuters had been left with no choice but to seek alternative transportation options until normalcy was restored. Several commuters were at the mercy of autos and others had to rely on BEST buses plying to Navi Mumbai.

Bosco D’Souza, a resident of Sector 20, Nerul and a regular commuter said, “The recent derailments and subsequent speed restrictions have made a bad situation even worse. Safety measures regarding speed restriction are necessary, but they must not come at the cost of human life, the overcrowded trains and platforms are a safety hazard on their own, as people can fall off them. The officials working for the Central Railway must find a way to minimize the impact on commuters. It is unfair to have trains delayed by more than one hour, especially in these hot and humid conditions.”