Local train services back on track

MUMBAI: The Western Railway network which was rocked by seven serial blasts on Tuesday has bounced back with almost all the 1,030 services operating between Churchgate and Virar. “About 10,000 people worked throughout the night at different locations to repair tracks, overhead wires and rakes,” Pranai Prabhakar, chief public relations officer, Western Railway said.

Local and long distance train services were suspended after 6.30 pm on Tuesday and were restored at 6.30 am on Wednesday. The mayhem had resulted in chaos at Churchgate station as rush hour passengers were stranded on roads to catch a bus while many of them walked to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.

The Mumbai division of the Western Railway has 25,000 employees, and a rescue team was rushed to various spots where the bombs exploded. A 10,000-member team which included top management people, to workers were up all night to carry out the repair work. It is the result of fast repairs done by Western Railways that the first train from Churchgate left at 6.30 am.

The first class compartments which were destroyed yesterday in the blasts have been hauled. As a result, the local trains are running on schedule. Though the trains were not packed as they usually are during morning rush hours which starts at 9.30 am, said Mr Prabhakar. However, some of the long distance trains which start from Bombay Central were either delayed or cancelled.

The financial loss to the railways could not be ascertained. “The financial loss can only be estimated when we examine the damaged coaches and the extent of damage,” he said. Since the bombs were planted under seats and it resulted in blowing up of compartments completely, so the financial damage could be significant.