Surat — The long-awaited third railway line between Surat and Udhna railway stations is now operational, marking a significant milestone for the Railways. Non-interlocking work, which began on August 26, was completed today, August 28. A Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) inspection was also conducted, granting the necessary approvals for train operations on the new line.
The Surat-Mumbai route experiences heavy traffic, with numerous passenger, mail-express, and goods trains traversing it daily. The addition of a second line between Surat and Jalgaon has only intensified the flow of goods and passenger trains. Until now, the Surat-Udhna section had just two lines, affecting the punctuality of trains on both the Surat-Mumbai and Surat-Jalgaon routes.
Trains headed for Jalgaon often experienced delays, while those on the Surat-Mumbai line had to halt frequently before signals due to intersecting trains from the Jalgaon route. This caused a domino effect, disrupting the schedule of trains headed towards Vadodara and Ahmedabad via Surat.
To alleviate these issues, the Railways initiated the construction of a third line between Surat and Udhna three years ago. "This third line will significantly reduce congestion and improve the efficiency of rail services in this high-traffic corridor," said a railway spokesperson.
With the completion of non-interlocking work and the green light from CRS, the third railway line is set to commence operations. This development is expected to substantially improve train scheduling and the overall commuting experience for thousands of daily passengers.
