Title - As Central Railway repairs end, motorman jumps signal, delays trains

MUMBAI: The motorman of a Dombivli local jumped a red signal at the crossover at Vidyavihar at 10.05pm, for which the train was detained for 20 minutes . As a result of this error, trains were held up, leading to delays in services by 20 minutes . The motorman was taken off duty and medical tests will be performed on him.

Earlier that day, Central Railway (CR) had completed the restoration work on signals between Kurla and Vidyavihar after an April 18 fire damaged the signal cabins. After restoration of suburban services two days ago, CR will now be able to streamline the freight services, which have not been plying since the incident.

The fire had damaged 68 signals between Kurla and Vidyavihar . As a result, trains were run through manual intervention , leading to delays and cancellations on April 18 and 19. Vidyadhar Malegaonkar, chief PRO, CR, said, "Freight traffic, including two fertilizercarrying trains, one LPG-carrying train and another carrying petroleum oil and lubricant , were able to ply out of Trombay after restoration of signals at points where trains interchange tracks."

Freight traffic had been suspended as diversion of trains from one track to another was not possible as the priority was to restore the suburban system.

Even though signals at points were not restored, it did not have much impact on CR's suburban services as these trains, having no need to interchange tracks, were able to run.

On Sunday, CR removed five rakes that had got stuck at Kurla car shed as the signalling system for points and crossings was not working. Malegaonkar said, "As a precautionary measure , officials and ground staff are still posted at the site to monitor the situation post restoration . The work has just been completed and we do not want to take any chances if something goes wrong again."