Local train services between Karjat and Khopoli remain suspended due to heavy rainfall and resulting track damage. According to Central Railway, the disruption was caused by water flow over the track that led to ballast washout, damaging the tracks and making operations impossible. The suspension affects this specific section of the Western Railway line, while other suburban services continue to operate normally. As per Central Railway's Chief Public Relations Officer Swapnil Nila, restoration work is underway and services would resume only after the tracks are declared safe for operations. Railway connectivity on the Mumbai-Pune corridor will remain crippled till July 17, as the Central Railway has cancelled 30 long-distance and intercity trains following the landslides on the Bhor Ghat section.
Despite the Karjat-Khopoli suspension, suburban services on the Main, Harbour, Trans-Harbour, and Port lines continue to operate normally, as reported by Central Railway. The railway authority confirmed that barring this section, suburban train services are operating on all four corridors - Main Line, Harbour Line, Trans-Harbour Line and Port Line. However, local trains on the Western Railway network are running 15 to 20 minutes behind schedule due to waterlogging between Vasai Road and Virar stations in neighbouring Palghar district, according to a Western Railway spokesperson. Mumbai woke to clear weather on Saturday with waters in low-lying areas having receded, making road travel smooth. Passengers are advised to factor in additional travel time while planning their journeys.
The Central Railway has cancelled 30 train services, including 14 daily trains, eight services on specified dates and eight special trains from July 10 to July 17. The cancelled services include the Deccan Queen, Deccan Express, Intercity Express services between Mumbai and Pune, the CSMT-Hyderabad Express, Chennai Egmore Superfast Mail and the Hubbali-Dadar Express. Additional cancellations affect trains such as the Mahalaxmi Express, Jodhpur-Hadapsar Express, Dadar-Satara Express and Dadar-Sainagar Shirdi Express on specified dates during the period. Several special trains connecting Mumbai and Pune with Gorakhpur, Ghazipur City and Hazrat Nizamuddin have also been cancelled, as per the railway release.
Intermittent heavy rain and gusty winds disrupted daily life in Mumbai and neighbouring districts on Monday, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a red alert for Mumbai warning of heavy rainfall and strong winds. In the 24 hours ending at 8 am on Monday, the island city recorded an average rainfall of 105.24 mm, while the eastern and western suburbs received 161.11 mm and 159.40 mm, respectively, according to the BMC. The IMD has issued a 'Nowcast Warning' for three hours starting 4 AM, warning of intense spells of rain with gusty winds reaching 50-60 kmph across Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that restoration teams are working despite the adverse weather conditions, with passengers advised to check real-time updates on train statuses before commencing their journeys.
While train services remain disrupted, Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will operate 200 additional bus trips daily on the Mumbai-Pune route from Saturday to ease passenger inconvenience due to the train cancellations. State transport minister Pratap Sarnaik said MSRTC will operate the additional services alongside its scheduled 312 e-Shivneri bus trips between Mumbai and Pune. A release stated that MSRTC depots and regional offices have been directed to operate more buses, if required, depending on passenger demand, to ensure commuters do not face inconvenience. Traffic on the Pune Expressway was restored after water accumulation and debris from landslides were cleared, with the 13-km bypass that cuts through the Sahyadri mountains having been built to reduce travel distance by 6 km and shaving 25 to 30 minutes off the commute.
