7 trains moving at the same time on 7 tracks at 7 am at CSTM today

It’s been a few months since the 7th line to Mazgaon yard from CSTM had been laid and used for shunting empty rakes from CSTM and back. I commute daily to CSTM from DI and always wanted to see action happening on all 7 tracks simultaneously. At the most I had seen 6 tracks being used by running trains but never 7 at the same time. But today my prayers were answered.


I had caught the 5:57 am Fast local to CSTM from DI. After KJT-Vangani section went AC, a MRVC rake is used for this service. The local was before time today and we left at 5:56 am and All Green was the signal right until Thane outer we sped past Kopar, Diva, and the Parsik Tunnel and finally slowed down and entered Platform No 6 at Thane. We reached at 6:06 am against the scheduled time of 6:10 am. I got down and rushed to Platform no 4 to catch a Thane starting slow local at 6:10. I normally do that to travel with comfort as well as gaze at the M/E trains that whiz past me on the UP and Down fast tracks. As we stopped at Sandhurst Road lower, I could see a harbour UP local approaching Sandhurst Road Upper level station. On the 7 line from the yard, I could see a KYN WDM2 pulling an empty rake of Pushpak Express to CSTM. It was slowly negotiating the turnout of the yard to get into the 7 line. As we started moving towards, Masjid , the UP harbour line local was descending the ramp. Soon we were joined by a WCAM3 21949 hauled 2116 Solapur-Mumbai Siddheshwar Express on the UP fast track. Now we had 4 trains moving in the UP direction. From the corner of the eye, I could spot a DC EMU rake bound to Panvel on the Down harbour line approaching the ramp along with a Down slow train to Thane on the Down slow track. Now we had 6 trains running side by side and I just wanted the Down fast track also to see some action to see my long cherished dream succeed.


To exceed my expectations, a WDP4 20059 with LHF was pulling out Mandovi Express out of CSTM with its 24 coach load. Yes, that completed the much awaited dream. By the time we stopped at Masjid. I was sure that both WCAM3 hauled Siddheshwar Express and WDM2 hauled empty rake of Pushpak express must have got a RED at Masjid as point were not yet cleared by the outgoing Mandovi Express. As soon as Mandovi Express cleared the points, another sight was awaiting me. Both the trains were given an Amber. Pushpak was slowly moving towards the new platforms 16/17 or 18 as I don’t know where it was finally parked. Siddheshwar was running parallel to it on the adjacent line to terminate finally on Platform no 9 and my slow local made its way to platform no 3 at CSTM. It was indeed a good start to the day and I expected a good day at office too. The controllers at CSTM had done a commendable job.