Mumbai Train Managers Protest Halts Suburban Services

Train managers in Mumbai ended their 'work to rule' protest after the Central Railway administration postponed a new safety circular. The protest, occurring at the busy Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, disrupted suburban services during evening hours, affecting commuters. The circular aimed to curb platform overshooting by modifying bell code signal rules.

Mumbai's suburban train network faced disruptions on Wednesday evening as train managers initiated a brief 'work to rule' protest at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT). This was in response to a newly issued safety circular by the Central Railway (CR) administration, which they argued would increase their workload.

Officials reported that train services normalized after the administration put the contentious circular on hold following discussions with train manager representatives. The protest had led to the cancellation of several services and delayed others, causing significant inconveniences for evening rush-hour commuters.

The safety circular, issued on May 7, included revised rules for bell code signals exchanged between train managers and motormen to prevent platform overshooting. Train managers who began adhering strictly to these new procedures claimed the changes increased their burden. With over 40 lakh daily commuters, the suburban network is a lifeline for Mumbai.