Mangaluru: Central Railway has announced temporary schedule changes for several long-distance trains, including the Mangaluru Junction–Mumbai CSMT Express, due to ongoing engineering and platform improvement works at Mumbai CSMT station. As part of the revised arrangements, select services will be short-terminated before reaching the CSMT terminal until April 25, according to an official release routed through Konkan Railway.
Railway authorities said the changes are necessary to facilitate infrastructure upgrades and engineering works at platforms 16 and 17 of Mumbai CSMT, one of the country’s busiest railway terminals. The platform works are part of capacity enhancement and safety improvement measures being carried out in phases.
Mangaluru–Mumbai CSMT Express short-terminated
As per the notification, Train No. 12134, which operates between Mangaluru Junction and Mumbai CSMT, will be short-terminated at Thane station instead of its usual destination at CSMT during the notified period. This temporary arrangement will remain in force until April 25.
This means passengers travelling on this express service will have to disembark at Thane and use suburban rail services, Metro, taxis or buses to reach central Mumbai and the CSMT area. Likewise, return services originating from the Mumbai side are also expected to be regulated accordingly, with departures handled from Thane instead of CSMT, as per operational feasibility and separate notifications.
Railway officials indicated that the measure is operational in nature and aimed at reducing congestion and platform load at CSMT while the engineering work is underway.
Tejas Express to stop at Dadar instead of CSMT
In addition to the Mangaluru–Mumbai service, the Tejas Express running between Madgaon Junction and Mumbai CSMT will also see a temporary change in terminal station. During the same period, this train will be short-terminated at Dadar station instead of proceeding up to CSMT.
Dadar is a major interchange hub with connectivity to both Central and Western Railway suburban networks, making it a practical alternative terminal during the restriction period. Passengers can continue their onward journey from Dadar using suburban trains or other local transport options.
Railway authorities said these adjustments are designed to minimise disruption while still allowing trains to maintain most of their scheduled route coverage.
Engineering works at key CSMT platforms
Platforms 16 and 17 at Mumbai CSMT are undergoing engineering and infrastructure-related works, which require blocks and restricted access for train operations. Such works typically include track renewal, signalling upgrades, platform strengthening, drainage improvements and passenger amenity enhancements.
Given the heavy daily train traffic handled at the terminal, even partial platform closures can significantly affect scheduling. Instead of cancelling services, railways often opt for short-termination or diversion strategies so that the majority of passengers can still be served with limited inconvenience.
Officials noted that advance planning and phased execution are being followed to keep disruptions under control while ensuring that safety standards are maintained.
Passenger advisory issued
Passengers planning to travel on the affected routes have been advised to carefully check updated schedules, terminal points and arrival details before starting their journey. Railway sources recommend verifying train status through official railway enquiry systems, station announcements and authorised ticketing platforms.
Travellers heading to south and central Mumbai areas from these trains should factor in additional travel time from Thane or Dadar to their final destination. Suburban rail connectivity from both stations is frequent, but peak-hour crowding may add to transfer time.
Passengers with connecting journeys from CSMT are advised to review and, if necessary, reschedule their onward bookings to avoid missed connections.
No change to intermediate halts
While terminal stations are being temporarily changed for the affected trains, railway officials said that most intermediate halts along the route will remain unchanged unless separately notified. This ensures that passengers boarding or alighting at en route stations will not face major disruption.
Only the final leg into the CSMT terminal is being curtailed for the specified period. Updated timetables reflecting the revised termination points are expected to be displayed across reservation systems.
Temporary measure till April 25
Railway authorities emphasised that the revised pattern is a temporary measure valid until April 25. Once the engineering works at the affected platforms are completed and cleared for full operations, trains are expected to resume their normal terminal at Mumbai CSMT.
Passengers are encouraged to monitor further updates, as extensions or early restoration may be announced depending on the pace of work and operational conditions.
Conclusion
The short-termination of key Konkan and coastal route trains is part of a broader infrastructure upgrade effort at a major metropolitan terminal. While the change may cause minor last-mile inconvenience, railway officials say it allows essential engineering work to proceed without large-scale cancellations, helping maintain overall service continuity.