Mumbai: Passengers travelling through Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) should prepare for significant changes in train operations as Central Railway is set to implement a 75-day traffic and power block from October 1 to December 15, 2026. The extended block is being undertaken as part of redevelopment and expansion work at the historic railway terminus.
The disruption will particularly affect passengers using long-distance Mail and Express trains arriving at CSMT. During the work period, eight trains that normally terminate at CSMT will instead be short-terminated at Dadar or Thane. The changes are expected to require passengers to make alternative arrangements for the final part of their journey.
CSMT Redevelopment Work Behind the Extended Block
The planned block is linked to redevelopment and expansion work involving platforms 14 and 15 and the associated infrastructure at CSMT. Railway operations on the affected platforms will remain suspended during the work, allowing the required engineering and infrastructure activities to be completed.
According to the announced operational plan, seven long-distance trains will terminate at Dadar instead of CSMT, while one service will be short-terminated at Thane. These arrangements will remain in effect during the specified work period, subject to further railway updates.
Which Trains Will Be Affected?
Passengers travelling on several important routes will need to take note of the revised terminating stations.
The seven trains scheduled to be short-terminated at Dadar include the 11002 Nandigram Express from Ballarshah, 12810 Howrah–CSMT Express, 12112 Amravati–CSMT Express, 11020 Konark Express from Bhubaneswar, 22120 Tejas Express from Madgaon, 22144 Bidar–CSMT Express and 22108 Latur–CSMT Express.
Meanwhile, Train 12134 Mangaluru–CSMT Express will be short-terminated at Thane during the block period.
What This Means for Mumbai Commuters
The changes are likely to be most noticeable for passengers whose destination is CSMT or areas around South Mumbai. Travellers arriving at Dadar or Thane will need to continue their journey using available suburban trains, buses, taxis or other local transport options.
Passengers connecting from long-distance trains to Mumbai’s suburban network are therefore advised to keep additional travel time in hand, particularly during peak hours. Dadar and Thane are major suburban railway hubs, but the additional interchange can still affect journey planning, especially for passengers carrying luggage or travelling with family.
The extended block also highlights the scale of infrastructure work being undertaken at one of Mumbai’s busiest railway terminals. While such engineering blocks can cause temporary inconvenience, the work is intended to facilitate improvements to railway infrastructure and station facilities.
Passengers Advised to Check Train Updates
With the 75-day block scheduled to begin on October 1, passengers travelling to or from CSMT should check their train’s latest schedule and terminating station before starting their journey. Railway authorities may issue further operational instructions depending on the progress of the redevelopment work.
For passengers with advance bookings, checking the latest railway notification before departure will be particularly important. Planning the connecting journey from Dadar or Thane in advance can help avoid unnecessary delays during the extended construction period.
The CSMT block is expected to remain in place until December 15, 2026, making it an important travel update for both Mumbai residents and long-distance railway passengers visiting the city over the next two and a half months.
