Dadar under Ultra peak hour traffic

Here I go with explaining my personal observations at Dadar CR platform 4,5,6 between 1915 to 22.00 hrs. It explains how interlocking takes place. Route Relay Interlocking or RRI is a function that routes a particular train on a particular line. A controller sitting in control room handles it mostly by a mere push of a button. But the complexity arises when he has to handle 4 lines simultaneously where traffic is present every 3 minutes on each line. To aid him, there is something called as TMS or Train Management System which gives the controller a visual representation of train movement on his computer screen on real time basis.

TMS screen which covers CSTM-KYN main line.(Photo by Rajendra Aklekar)

The game begins after 7.00 pm when there are mail/exp movements squeezed between regular peak hour traffic. The first arrival is 11008 up Pune-Mumbai Deccan express on pf.6 at 19.15. Here a buffer of +/- 5 minutes needs to be considered. This train is on time under normal circumstances. So it easily clears the platform by 19.22. By then the PA system starts announcing the coach position of 12105 DN CSTM-Gondia Vidarbha express. The train is expected to arrive on pf. 5 by 19.25. It takes around 1 minute 6 seconds for a 24 coach load to enter and an equal amount of time to exit the platform at a T/out speed of 30 kmph. By the time 12105 starts rolling out, pf.4 is occupied by 19.31 Badlapur Fast. It is followed by 4 Fast EMUs to different suburban destinations.

A close up of the main screen highlighting Dadar and Kurla.(Photo by Rajendra Aklekar)

While this action unfolds on platform 4 and 5, 11302 up Bangalore- Mumbai Udyan express arrives by 19.30 after clearing a fast local to CST which sandwiches itself between 11008 and 11302. Udyan clears by 19.35. Back to back two CSTM bound locals pass through, till then preparations begin to handle 12137 dn CSTM-Firozpur The Punjab mail. 12533 Lucknow Mumbai pushpak enters pf.6 by 19.40. Just behind it is a Titwala Dadar Fast local which arrives on pf.5 to quickly reverse its journey as Ambernath fast. Sometimes this local is taken ahead of Pushpak or vice versa. If the Dadar local arrives behind Pushpak then 12533 is made to wait till the emu comes at a complete stop on platform 5.

Its 19.55 now and here comes the humming of an EMD. 11030 KOP-CSTM koyana express occupies platform 6 while 12137 arrives a little after 19.55. The 20.01 Karjat fast is already waiting for a signal when 12137 starts rolling out. The next few minutes are reserved for EMU traffic on both UP and DN fast.

By 20.20, the coach position for 12111 CSTM-Amravati Superfast exp is announced. Within a minute or two 12111 pulls into pf.5.A few seconds later all clear is given on line 4 for 12289 Nagpur Duronto. The next 5 mins are spent waiting for Duronto. By 20.27 Duronto makes a roaring entry through pf.4 behind WCAM 3. By the time Duronto last coach touches Matunga, 12111 is given a starter. Its already 20.30 by now and 12163 Dadar-Chennai Superfast also get ready for departure from pf 7. Many times, 12111 and 12163 make a parallel departure from pf 5 and pf 7 respectively. 12163 is held at outer signal for 12111 to clear the line. . The moment end SLR of 12111 clears Matunga, 12163 is given Amber. It starts clearing from terminus line to DN fast.  In between that Nagercoil Mumbai express is given an entry to pf.6.NCJ-CSTM arrives anytime between 20.25 to 20.45, so its adjusted  before or after 12163. Sometimes it is held up at Matunga outer if 12163 hasn’t cleared its way. 12163 is still rolling on to the main line when 17411 dn Mumbai Kolhapur Mahalaxmi exp occupies pf.5.

Earlier 17411 used to arrive on pf.4.Due to inadequate platform length it made double halt. 12163 would clear the line just in time to give Amber for 17411 in which case the loco halted overshooting Dadar home signal. A minute delay would keep the signal on Red aspect due to which 17411 loco had to wait before the signal. The issue has been solved recently by changing 17411’s platform. It is now allotted pf.5 which is long enough to accommodate a 24 coach load. After a brief half of 2 mins,it starts rolling out at 20.43. 20.44 Thane fast immediately follows 17411 wherein most of the times the local has to wait for a longer time.

An Asangaon CST Fast is quickly adjusted in the small slot between Nagercoil and Intercity. Its 20.50 now and Pf.6 gets ready to take 12128 up Pune Mumbai Intercity express(ICE) while pf.5 awaits the arrival of 12809 Mumbai-Howrah mail via Nagpur. Its 20.52 when ICE makes a dashing entry into pf.6. The mighty WCAM 3 easily enters at 60 kmph and hard brakes are applied so it comes to a screeching halt. The moment 12809 starts moving out from pf.5, Khopoli Fast enters pf.4 and because of the huge 24 coach load, Khopoli fast has to make a longer halt. Again, the last SLR of 12809 clears Matunga and Khopoli F starts rolling out. It is fun to see two trains are given clearance on the same track within one kilometre distance. Khopoli is followed by Kasara and Kalyan fast back to back. Within 2 minutes of ICE’s departure, 12860 Howrah-Mumbai Gitanjali express makes a fast entry into pf.6. The following Titwala-CST local, which is sandwiched between ICE and Gitanjali is sometimes taken on up slow line.

By the time Gitanjali exits, pf.4 gets charged up for CSTM-Latur express arriving at 21.15. It is immediately followed by 17057 Mumbai-Secunderabad Devgiri express on pf.5. 17057 leaves by 21.25 while 10104 up Madgaon Mumbai Mandovi exp enters behind a humming KJM WDP 4 locomotive. 11305 DN Mumbai Solapur exp is a new kid in the league adding extra pressure on the RRI guys. When Devgiri and Mandovi are cleared, 11021 Dadar-Tirunelveli express get a go ahead from pf.7 at 21.30 immediately followed by 21.34 Karjat Fast.It is almost 21.40 when 11021 clears the line and 12322 Mumbai Howrah mail via Allahabad is received on pf.5. Meanwhile 22106 Pune-Mumbai Indrayani express arrives on pf 6. She is immediately followed by Nanded-Mumbai Tapovan express. 12322 clears down fast line by 21.45 and pf.6 UP fast is cleaned by 21.50.

Controllers have a break of 10 minutes before 12701 Mumbai-Hyderabad Hussainsagar exp shatters the silence with angrily roaring diesel. This is the regular “peak hour” movement Dadar controllers handle daily. A chain pulling (ECP) or a single delayed train scrambles the entire sequencing and schedule of traffic. These guys do a remarkable job of handling 24 long distance trains squeezed into an equal number of suburban EMU traffic in just 2.5 hrs.