Mumbai: 

The shutdown is scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM on Saturday, 26 April, and continue through to the early hours of Monday, 28 April. The engineering project, described as critical for the long-term safety and operational efficiency of the busy line, will have significant knock-on effects across both suburban and long-distance services.

Weekend rail travel on Mumbai’s Western Railway corridor is set to face widespread disruption, as extensive upgrade work on a key bridge between Kandivali and Borivali forces the cancellation of more than 160 suburban services. Western Railway has confirmed that a major 35-hour block will be implemented to conduct re-girdering work on Bridge Number 61.

Local train users in Mumbai to face major disruptions today & tomorrow

Commuters who rely on Western Railway’s suburban trains will bear the brunt of the disruption. On Saturday alone, 73 local services will be cancelled, followed by 90 more on Sunday. Additionally, suburban trains that usually operate on the 5th line will be diverted to the fast corridor, altering the regular flow and timing of services.

This diversion is likely to cause delays and heavy congestion, particularly at major interchange stations such as Andheri, Goregaon and Vasai Road, as passengers attempt to navigate the revised schedules.

Impact on long-distance trains operating to & from Mumbai

The Ahmedabad–Borivali Express (Train No. 19418) will be short-terminated at Vasai Road on both 25 and 26 April, bypassing its final stretch to Borivali. Its return journey, the Borivali–Ahmedabad Express (Train No. 19417), will begin from Vasai Road on 27 April instead of Borivali.

Similarly, the Borivali–Nandurbar Express (Train No. 19425) will depart from Bhayander on 26 and 27 April, while the return service (Train No. 19426) will terminate early at Vasai Road on 26 April.

Long-distance train services are not spared either, with several routes facing partial cancellations or changes in starting and terminating stations.

Travel advisory for passengers

Passengers have been urged to plan ahead and stay updated as the work progresses over the weekend. Western Railway has made timetables and lists of affected services available through its website and at stations across the network. Despite the inevitable inconvenience, the upgrade is part of a broader initiative to strengthen infrastructure and improve safety across the railway system.

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