Western Railway has approved a major safety enhancement project involving the replacement of old hydraulic buffer stops at Mumbai’s Churchgate and Mumbai Central railway stations with advanced high-capacity systems. The upgrade aims to improve safety at dead-end platforms by reducing the impact risk of trains overshooting terminal points.
Under the project, the Mumbai Central Division will install new hydraulic buffer stops at Platforms 1, 2, and 4 of Churchgate station and Platform 4 of Mumbai Central station. The work will be executed through a turnkey contract covering the design, fabrication, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of the new systems.
A total of four buffer sets, comprising eight hydraulic buffers, will be installed as part of the upgrade. The existing buffer systems at these platforms were installed between 1906 and 1958 and have deteriorated after decades of continuous service. Railway officials said the old equipment has reached a stage where repairs are no longer economically viable, leading to its replacement as a priority.
Churchgate and Mumbai Central are among Western Railway’s busiest terminal stations, serving thousands of suburban commuters daily along with premium long-distance services such as the Rajdhani Express, August Kranti Rajdhani, Shatabdi Express and Humsafar Express. Since trains terminate at these dead-end platforms, hydraulic buffers act as a crucial safety mechanism by absorbing impact in case of overshooting.
The new systems will be installed according to the latest specifications issued by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in November 2024. The high-capacity energy absorption systems are designed to safely stop a fully loaded passenger train weighing around 1,300 tonnes travelling at speeds of up to 15 kmph, while preventing damage to coaches and station infrastructure.
The upgraded buffers will be compatible with both Centre Buffer Coupler (CBC) and conventional side-buffer rolling stock used by Indian Railways. Officials stated that the new systems will have a service life of at least 20 years and require minimal maintenance for the first 36 months, except in case of accidents.
Designed to withstand Mumbai’s humid coastal conditions, the buffers will also feature red-and-white reflective markings for better visibility. The project is expected to further strengthen safety measures at two of Western Railway’s most important terminals.
Source: The Free Press Journal
