Mumbai’s Western Railway Tracks Get a Modern Makeover: Faster Travel Ahead!

Mumbai: Commuters traveling on the Andheri-Borivali stretch of the Western Railway are set for an upgraded travel experience, thanks to advanced high-tech upgrades underway. With new cement-concrete sleepers replacing the older versions, this initiative promises smoother and faster train services.

The upgrades, part of a Western Railway overhaul plan, cover the entire route from Churchgate to Virar and extend to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Delhi corridor. The ongoing work is being performed during the night to minimize disruption to suburban train services.

Key Enhancements Include:

• Deeper Sleepers: 230 mm depth compared to the existing 160 mm.

• Increased Weight: New sleepers are 25% heavier, offering improved stability.

• Cutting-edge Machinery: A specialised Track Relaying Train (TRT) is replacing sleepers and refreshing ballast—a layer of crushed stones that stabilises the tracks.

• High-speed Rail Benefits: Tracks will now support speeds of up to 160 km/h for premium trains like Rajdhani and Vande Bharat, with a future promise of reducing travel time by 30-45 minutes between Mumbai and Ahmedabad/Delhi.

Additionally, a rail grinding machine is being used to smooth surfaces, reducing cracks and ensuring longer durability. Western Railway is aiming to install 3.92 lakh sleepers along the 236-kilometer track.

This upgrade ensures a robust railway infrastructure, setting the stage for safer, faster, and more efficient train journeys. For Mumbai commuters and high-speed rail passengers alike, better days are on the horizon.