Mumbai-Pune rail corridor faces cancellations through July 17 after landslides

Central Railway is keeping the Mumbai-Pune ghat corridor under heavy service restrictions after monsoon-triggered landslides damaged the steep section, with cancellations now extending through July 17.

The disruption is affecting one of Maharashtra’s most important passenger links and has forced the railway to send advance cancellation messages to passengers with confirmed tickets. Officials have said normal operations on the route are unlikely before July 17.

What happened

The trouble began on July 6, when landslides and rain damage hit the Khandala-Karjat and Lonavala ghat stretch, including the section between Thakurwadi Cabin and Monkey Hill. The corridor is vulnerable to weather-related damage because trains run through steep terrain in the Bhor Ghat area.

By July 7, one of the three damaged lines had been restored, but trains on that line were still running under a 30 kmph speed restriction. The restoration work has continued on the remaining damaged lines, with rail officials saying difficult terrain and rain are slowing repairs.

Restoration work and restrictions

Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the restoration work on July 9. Reports said trains on the restored single line would continue to run with two locomotives because the slip line used for banker engines remained out of service.

The arrangement has allowed some trains to keep moving, but the corridor is still far from normal operation. Reports said around 24 to 25 trains were operating in both directions each day on the restored line while repair work continued at the damaged locations.

Cancellations through July 17

By July 10, reports said Central Railway had cancelled 30 trains through July 17 because of the landslides in the Bhor Ghat area. A separate report said 14 trains, including three Pune-Mumbai intercity services, were cancelled from July 10 to July 17, along with additional selective cancellations and withdrawn special trains.

The affected services include outright cancellations, short-originations, short-terminations and diversions. Central Railway has said it is sending advance messages to passengers to reduce confusion as the schedule keeps changing.

Passenger impact and outlook

The Mumbai-Pune route is a key commuter and intercity corridor, so the disruption is affecting daily travel as well as longer-distance passengers. The current restrictions are being framed as a safety measure while restoration work continues.

The main questions now are whether the remaining damaged track lines reopen on schedule, whether the 30 kmph restriction can be eased and whether more trains will be added to the cancellation list if rain continues. For now, officials say the corridor is unlikely to return to normal before July 17.