Overview
- The suburban network, which faltered Wednesday during a 5:15–5:45 pm work-to-rule at CSMT, saw three cancellations and knock-on delays across the evening rush.
- The contested circular revises bell-code protocol by requiring guards to ring a single advance bell before each scheduled stop and to apply brakes if a train still approaches the platform too fast.
- Railway officials say the change follows recent overshoot incidents, including a Kalyan-bound AC local that stopped two coaches past Bhandup in March.
- The brief slowdown created crush crowds at CSMT, Dadar, Kurla, Ghatkopar and Thane on a system that runs about 2,300 trains a day for over four million riders.
- Officials placed the rule under review, services resumed after talks, and a meeting with unions is set for May 18 with unions warning the protest could return if concerns are not addressed.