Revised Train Timings and Safety Measures on Konkan Railway during Monsoon
Starting from June 10 until October 31, the Konkan Railway network has introduced a revised timetable to ensure the safety of passengers during the monsoon season. The changes in train timings aim to avert any untoward incidents that may occur due to heavy rains in the region. These modifications affect several trains operating on the Konkan Railway network, and passengers are advised to confirm the updated timings before their journey.
One of the trains affected is the 12620/12619 Mangaluru Central-Mumbai LTT Matsyagandha Express. Instead of departing at 2:20 pm, the train now departs at 12:45 pm. Its pairing train, the 12619, will arrive at Mangaluru Central at 10:10 am instead of 7:40 am.
The timings for the 12133 Mumbai CSMT-Mangaluru Junction Superfast train have also been adjusted. The train will now arrive in Mangaluru at 3:40 pm instead of 1:05 pm, and the return train, 12134 to Mumbai CSMT, will depart at 4:35 pm instead of 2:00 pm.
For the 06602 Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Daily Express Special, the departure time remains the same at 5:30 am, but the arrival at Madgaon has been shifted to 1:15 pm instead of 1:10 pm. The corresponding train, 06601, will depart from Madgaon at 1:50 pm and reach Mangaluru Central at 9:40 pm instead of 9:05 pm.
The Thiruvananthapuram Central-Mumbai LTT Nethravathi Express (16346) will depart from Thiruvananthapuram at its usual time of 9:15 am. However, the departure from Mangaluru Junction has been advanced to 9:35 pm instead of 10:50 pm. The train will arrive at LTT at 5:05 pm the next day. The return train, 16345, will leave LTT at 11:40 am and arrive at Mangaluru Junction at 5:45 am the following day, reaching Thiruvananthapuram at 7:35 pm instead of 6:05 pm.
In addition to the revised train timings, the Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) has taken extensive safety measures to ensure the smooth running of trains during the monsoon season. Approximately 673 personnel will patrol the Konkan Railway route to prevent any casualties on the tracks, considering the heavy rainfall in the region. Intensified round-the-clock patrolling will take place, with stationary watchmen deployed for 24 hours at identified vulnerable locations. Speed restrictions will be imposed at these locations to enhance safety.
Significant attention has been given to cleaning catch water drains and inspecting cuttings along the railway line. Over the years, large-scale geo-safety works have been executed, leading to a significant reduction in incidents such as boulders falling and landslides, thereby ensuring the safe operation of trains. Notably, there have been no major disruptions to train services caused by falling boulders during the monsoon in the past decade.
During periods of heavy rainfall with limited visibility, locomotive pilots have been instructed to reduce the speed of trains to 40 km/h. To address any emergencies, self-propelled accident relief medical vans with operation theaters and emergency medical aid are on standby at Ratnagiri and Verna. Additionally, an accident relief train is ready at Verna in Goa.
