Now Reading: Firecracker blaze damages cables, 35 Western Railway trains cancelled
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Firecracker blaze damages cables, 35 Western Railway trains cancelled
The Story in Brief
A fire caused by firecrackers damaged signalling cables on the Western Railway tracks between Virar and Nallasopara late Sunday, 8 November, disrupting train services into Monday, 9 November. The blaze broke out at around 11.20 pm and was extinguished within 30 minutes, but it destroyed 14 12-core and six six-quad signalling cables, affecting seven signals and multiple track circuits.
On Monday, 35 suburban services were cancelled and 150 were delayed, while 14 services had been delayed on Sunday night. UP trains heading towards Mumbai had to pass two signals under safety rules, slowing movement through the section. Railway staff worked through the night to replace cables, and restoration of signals was completed gradually between 1.38 am and 10.45 am on Monday. Western Railway expects full restoration of the signalling system by Monday, 16 November.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The fire that damaged signalling cables between Virar and Nallasopara has exposed how a small trackside incident can cascade into a day-long disruption for lakhs of commuters. The loss of seven signals and multiple track circuits forced UP trains to pass two signals under safety rules, a procedure that slowed every train through the section. Western Railway expects full restoration by Monday, 16 November, but the cost of replacing 14 12-core and six six-quad cables has not yet been assessed. For passengers on the Virar-Churchgate corridor, the 35 cancellations and 150 delays on Monday, 9 November are a reminder of how dependent suburban services are on a single signalling cable network.
Source: outlookindia.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above. Methodology and corrections.
