Central Railway's fifth and sixth lines to open on April 3

MUMBAI: Work on the fifth and sixth lines, between Thane and Kurla stations, has been completed after nearly two decades and the first train will operate on the section when the lines are connected to the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) on April 3.
Central Railway plans a major block between April 2 and 3 to connect the lines, which will provide separate lines for fast, slow and mail/express trains, to improve punctuality and capacity. The eight-hour block will be on the Up line, and a 15-hour block on lines connecting the terminus.
There will be four to five such mega blocks in April.
But officials said additional services depended on the number of additional rakes that will come in.
CR has received clearances from the commissioner of railway safety for the new lines. Officials said work to connect fast lines to the fifth and sixth lines and the Kurla car-shed would be taken up soon.
"Some mail/express and suburban trains will be rescheduled. Speed restrictions will be imposed for 50 metres at Vidyavihar. Initially, speed restrictions will be 20 to 25 kmph," chief PRO V Malegaonkar said.
Other related work will be carried out in April. "Trains in the new section will run at 90 kmph, a record for Indian Railways," he said.
On reports that Vikhroli residents opposed the opening of the lines and that they had threatened an agitation as they had issues with the landing of the present foot over-bridge (FOB), he said: "We are sensitive to the residents' demands. The new FOB will open, as promised, in June 2011. We do not plan to change the existing FOB's landing. The level crossing gates will be shifted when the lines are opened."