Mumbai Local Train Services were Affected Due to the Protest by Train Guards at Mumbai Central Station

A protest by train guards on Mumbai's Central Railway network disrupted Mumbai local train services during evening rush hour this week. The guards, also called train managers, carried out a "work-to-rule" protest at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus between 5:15 pm and 5:45 pm. Due to the agitation, several suburban trains were

delayed, and a few services between CSMT and Kalyan were cancelled, leading to heavy crowding at stations.

Mumbai Train Guards Protest

The protest started after Central Railway issued a new safety circular on May 7. The updated rule asked guards to give advance bell signals to motormen before the train reached a station. This was meant to help motormen slow down trains in time and avoid overshooting platforms. If the motorman failed to respond and the train continued at high speed, the guard was also instructed to apply the brakes. Railway officials said the rule was introduced after recent incidents in Vikhroli and Bhandup, where trains stopped beyond the platform limits.

Guards, however, said the new rules added more pressure to an already stressful job. They explained that their work requires constant focus during long shifts, often in difficult weather conditions. According to them, the added responsibilities would increase fatigue and make the job more demanding. Some guards also argued that similar systems are already used on Western Railway, but platform overshooting incidents still happen there.

Railway Authorities' Statement

Railway authorities defended the circular, saying it was introduced only to improve passenger safety and reduce human error. Central Railway also highlighted its GPS-based Signal Location Announcement System (SILAS), which alerts motormen before signals and upcoming stations. After discussions between railway officials and union representatives, services slowly returned to normal, though talks on the issue are expected to continue.