Mumbai: The Central Railway (CR) has announced a significant 15-hour special traffic and power block on its busy Main Line section between Umbermali and Atgaon stations, scheduled from 12 noon on April 25 to 3 am on April 26, 2026. The block is being undertaken to facilitate essential yard remodelling work at Khardi as part of the ongoing Kalyan–Kasara third line infrastructure project.
According to railway officials, the block will be implemented on both Up and Down North-East corridor lines, directly affecting suburban commuters as well as long-distance train operations. The decision has been taken to improve operational capacity and enhance the long-term efficiency and safety of rail movement on this critical route.
The most significant impact will be on daily suburban passengers. The CR has confirmed that suburban services between Asangaon and Kasara will remain completely suspended during the 15-hour window. Several Kasara-bound local trains originating from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) will be short-terminated or rescheduled at intermediate stations such as Asangaon, Titwala, and Vasind.
Commuters have been advised that the last local train towards Kasara before the block will depart from CSMT at 8:33 am on April 25, while normal suburban operations are expected to resume after the completion of the block in the early hours of April 26.
The impact of the block extends beyond suburban services, affecting multiple long-distance mail and express trains. The CSMT–Dhule Express has been cancelled for April 25 due to operational constraints.
Several other trains will either be short-terminated, diverted via alternate routes, or rescheduled to late-night or early-morning departures on April 26. Key diversions include routing via Pune, Vasai Road, and Bhiwandi Road, while some services will skip key stops like Kalyan due to congestion management during the block period.
Trains bound for major destinations including Banaras, Gorakhpur, Patna, Amritsar, and Firozpur are also expected to face schedule adjustments. In addition, passengers travelling on multiple routes may experience delays of 25–30 minutes due to traffic regulation and operational constraints.
Railway authorities have clarified that the block is a planned requirement for the non-interlocking work linked to the Khardi yard remodelling project, which forms a crucial part of the broader third-line expansion between Kalyan and Kasara. This expansion aims to reduce congestion, improve punctuality, and support increasing passenger and freight traffic on the route.
Officials have emphasized that although the block will cause temporary inconvenience, it is necessary for long-term capacity enhancement and safety improvements. The Central Railway has also urged passengers to check revised train timings in advance and plan their journeys accordingly.The railway administration has issued an advisory requesting commuters to remain alert to changes in schedules and avoid last-minute travel disruptions. Authorities have reiterated that such infrastructure blocks are essential for strengthening Mumbai’s suburban rail network, which handles one of the highest passenger volumes in the world.
