Western Railway Completes Sixth Track Between Goregaon and Kandivali: Commuters Rejoice!

In a significant development for Mumbai's rail commuters, the Western Railway (WR) has successfully completed the construction of the sixth railway track between Goregaon and Kandivali. This crucial infrastructure upgrade is set to enhance the efficiency of suburban local services, which will return to normal operations starting Monday.

On the same day, the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) will conduct a trial run on the newly laid line between Ram Mandir and Kandivali using a special train capable of reaching speeds of 120 km/h. Vineet Abhishek, the Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, confirmed that all necessary work has been finalized, and no further major blockades will be required for this project.

Despite the successful completion, WR sources have indicated there may be minor delays or cancellations as the new sixth line is integrated into the existing network. However, these disruptions are expected to last only a couple of days. Over the past 41 days, more than 700 local trains were canceled during a comprehensive mega block initiated by WR for the track installation. The final stage of this operation involved a significant 10-hour mega block from Saturday night to Sunday morning.

Throughout the 41-day period, Western Railway authorities also constructed and operationalized an island platform at Malad station, making necessary adjustments to train schedules to prevent simultaneous arrivals at the platform. The upgrade included a new signaling system, additional switching points for trains, and various technical enhancements to establish a dedicated route for long-distance trains between Bandra Terminus and Kandivali.

Looking ahead, the next phase of the sixth track’s expansion, which will extend from Kandivali to Borivali, is slated to begin soon, with a target completion date of March 2025. Once fully operational, this extension will allow for separate tracks for suburban and long-distance trains, significantly improving travel efficiency from Bandra Terminus to Borivali.