TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Derailment of a goods train on the Ratnagiri section has disrupted train movement on the Konkan Railway route on Monday, with KR authorities cancelling a number of trains and diverting long-distance trains.
The Mandovi Express and the up and down Matsyagandha and Konkan Kanya trains were cancelled on Monday. Similarly, the Raja Raji running between Mumbai and Sawantwadi also stands cancelled due to the derailment.
The KRC has set up a help desk at the Margao Railway Station to answer passenger queries on train movement along the route. Long-distance trains running on the KR route have been diverted via Colem.
KRC senior Public Relations Manager Baban Ghatge said the up and down Mandovi, Matsyagandha and Konkan Kanya trains stand cancelled. Replying to a question, Ghatge said that work at the derailment site is in full swing to remove the ill-fated wagons from the tracks. “The work is hampered since the derailment has taken place inside a tunnel”, he said, while exuding confidence that the route is expected to open on Tuesday.
On whether the Mandovi, Matsyagandha and Konkan Kanya trains will run on the route on Tuesday, Ghatge said that restoration of the train services will depend on the progress of work at the site. “If the route is cleared for traffic even at 8 am on Tuesday, the Mandovi express will depart from Margao as usual tomorrow”, he said. Passengers were seen stranded at the Margao railway station.
The help desk was flooded with inquiries from the passengers as many of them later took the bus service to travel to Mumbai.
