The CSMT-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express experienced a significant delay on Monday morning after it deviated from its scheduled route due to a technical malfunction at Diva Junction. According to an official the train, which was heading towards Goa, was delayed by approximately 90 minutes.

About The Incident

According to sources, this incident occurred around 6:10 am when the  CSMT-Madgaon Vande Bharat express, instead of following the regular Diva-Panvel route used by Konkan-bound trains, took the Kalyan route. This deviation also affected several local train services on the Central Railway as well.

Statement Of An Official Of CR

"This incident occurred due to the failure of the signalling and telecommunications system at point number 103, between the down fast line and the 5th line at Diva junction, from where trains heading towards Konkan proceed to Panvel station on the regular route" said an official of CR.

 "After the train deviated from its charted course, it moved to Kalyan station and reversed to Diva junction, from where it resumed its onward journey to Madgaon on the Diva -Panvel route, he said.

Train Continues Its Journey

The train continued its journey by first reaching Kalyan station, where it was reversed back to Diva junction for its resumption on the original Diva-Panvel route. The express was detained at Diva junction for about 35 minutes, from 6:10 am to 6:45 am before proceeding towards Kalyan.

At Kalyan station, the Vande Bharat Express arrived at platform number six around 7:04 am, via the 5th line, and was reversed back towards Diva station at 7:13 am. It eventually resumed its journey to Madgaon, reaching its destination nearly an hour and a half behind schedule.

Launched in June 2023, the premium CSMT-Madgaon Vande Bharat Express typically departs from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai at 5:25 am and is scheduled to reach Madgaon in Goa by 1:10 am on the same day. Railway officials noted that such incidents are rare and attributed the disruption to the failure of the automated signalling system, which is typically reliable.