Pune: Deccan Queen and Intercity Express To Run Again From July 16; Third Ghat Line Restoration Underway
Pune: Deccan Queen and Intercity Express To Run Again From July 16; Third Ghat Line Restoration Underway
Pune, July 15: Central Railway has restored the South East Down line between Karjat and Lonavala, marking a major milestone in the ongoing efforts to normalise train operations on the Mumbai–Pune route following landslides that disrupted services earlier this month.
The restored line became operational late on July 14 after three goods trains were successfully run as trial services. Train No. 22107 CSMT–Latur Express was the first passenger train to pass through the restored section. It departed Karjat at 11.18 pm on July 14, traversed the affected stretch at a restricted speed of 20 kmph, and reached Lonavala at 12.27 am on July 15.
With the restoration of the second line, Central Railway has announced that the CSMT–Pune–CSMT Deccan Queen (Train Nos. 12123/12124) and the CSMT–Pune–CSMT Intercity Express (Train Nos. 12127/12128) will resume regular services from July 16, 2026.
Railway officials said restoration work has been underway round the clock since the landslides struck the Lonavala–Karjat ghat section on July 6. The middle line was restored on July 7, while the South East Down line was reopened on July 14. Restoration of the third (Up) line is currently in progress.
More than 1,200 labourers, along with senior officers, engineers and supervisors, have been working continuously in difficult terrain to clear debris and rebuild the damaged railway infrastructure. To speed up the restoration, Central Railway deployed heavy machinery, including Boulder Special Trains, Unimat and Duomatic track machines, Poclain excavators and JCBs. Special labour trains have also been operated to transport workers to the site.
Passengers are advised to check the National Train Enquiry System (NTES) app or contact the railway helpline for the latest train running information. Central Railway said it will continue sharing timely operational updates through its official social media platforms and thanked passengers for their patience and cooperation during the restoration work.
