Heavy rainfall on 23 July 2026 caused rivers under several railway bridges in Maharashtra’s Palghar district to rise above danger levels, disrupting services on the Western Railway network. Flooding forced the suspension and regulation of train traffic between Dahanu Road and Valsad.
Railway Bridge Suspensions and Speed Restrictions
The Western Railway halted train movement at 4:43 am on Bridge No. 203 located between Umargam Road and Gholvad due to high water levels. Services resumed at 6:50 am with a speed restriction limited to 15 kmph. Additionally, operations were temporarily suspended on Bridge No. 230 in Sanjan Yard and Bridge No. 284 between Udvada and Vapi, also
affected by elevated water levels.
Train Cancellations, Short-Terminations, and Diversions
Rail traffic disruptions on the Western Railway network led to the cancellation of 52 trains, 46 short-terminations, and 19 diversions as of Thursday. Among the cancelled were major services including the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Express, Bandra Terminus-Ramnagar Express, Mumbai Central-Gandhinagar Vande Bharat Express, Virar-Valsad Passenger, and Bandra Terminus-Surat Intercity Express. The Surat-Mumbai Central Flying Rani was terminated at Udhna, and the Surat-Virar Express was curtailed at Valsad. Several other trains in transit were regulated to manage congestion on flood-affected sections.
Impact on Suburban Rail Services
Suburban services on the Northern section of the Western Railway also experienced disruptions. The Churchgate-Dahanu Road local
train was terminated at Vangaon, and services between Vangaon and Dahanu Road were cancelled. The return Dahanu Road-Borivali local train was operated from Vangaon instead, reflecting adjustments made to suburban schedules to accommodate flood conditions.
Western Railway officials deployed senior management and engineering teams to monitor water levels and inspect affected tracks and bridges. The operator indicated that normal train operations will resume only after floodwaters recede and the routes are declared safe for service.
