Borivali-Churchgate non-AC local train cancelled due to AC local delays

Bombay: Known for its bustling streets and vibrant culture, the city also boasts a complex and extensive commuter rail network that millions of people rely on every day. Amid the city’s hectic pace, however, lies a recurring frustration for travelers: the frequent cancellation of commuter trains, which disrupts daily routines and tests patience.

A frequent traveler shares his experience

On a Tuesday morning, Sanket Patel, a regular commuter, found himself once again at the mercy of Mumbai’s unpredictable train services. Standing on the platform, he nervously checked his watch as the clock struck 10:26. The 10:22 local express train to Churchgate, which he was counting on, was nowhere in sight. Disgruntled, he took to ‘X’, a popular social networking site, to vent his frustration.

“Passengers often face the problem of cancellation of 10:22 Churchgate Fast local train from Borivali. This happens frequently and there is no prior or post-cancellation announcement

“This is literally frustrating,” Sanket Patel posted on “X,” formerly known as Twitter, at 10:26 a.m. Tuesday.

“Your train was cancelled because the train arrived late at Churchgate. This was because the AC local train was taking extra time at various stations as the doors were blocked by passengers,” read the terse reply from the Divisional Railway Manager of Western Railways Mumbai Central division.

Frustrated by this explanation, Patel hit back by questioning why issues like blocked doors were not promptly addressed by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and why passengers were not informed about the cancellations before the fact.

This is not an isolated incident

The cancellation is not an isolated incident. It echoes a broader sentiment among Mumbai commuters, who endure overcrowded platforms, delayed schedules and poor communication from the railway authorities. With nearly 1,400 commuter trains operating daily, 79 of which are air-conditioned, the pressure on infrastructure during peak hours is palpable. Passengers crammed into crowded compartments, jostling for space in the sweltering heat, reflect the challenges faced by Westerners and the need to meet the city’s colossal transport demands.

For Patel and many others, the saga of the cancelled trains is a poignant reminder of Mumbai’s paradoxical appeal – a city of limitless possibilities mixed with the daily struggle with its formidable transport problems. As the sun set over the Arabian Sea, casting a golden hue on the city’s skyline, commuters like Patel hoped for a safer future, where their journeys would be marked not by cancellations and delays, but by seamless travel through Mumbai’s vast network of steel and concrete veins.

Published on: Tuesday, July 16, 2024, 3:05 PM IST