Pune, 15th June 2026: In a major infrastructure upgrade, the Railway Division has removed a dangerous double diamond crossing from the Pune railway station yard and replaced it with a new crossing system. The work was carried out on Sunday under a mega block and involved more than 300 railway personnel.
The project was undertaken at Points No. 208 and 209 in the Mumbai-bound section of the Pune station yard. Along with the new crossing, railway teams installed new sleepers and 60-kg rails to strengthen the track and improve overall safety.
The decision to remove the double diamond crossing was taken by the Railway Board following the Mumbai–Solapur Vande Bharat Express accident near Pune. Pune station yard has a total of 11 such crossings, and work on two of them has now been completed.
Track replacement work began at 8 am and continued until around 7 pm. Although the railway administration had initially planned a nine-hour mega block from 8 am to 5 pm, the work took longer than expected, extending the block by nearly two hours. Some evening train services experienced minor disruptions as a result.
"The replacement of the ageing double diamond crossing was essential for improving safety and operational efficiency. Older and worn-out points required trains to slow down significantly while changing tracks. With the new system in place, trains will be able to switch tracks at the designated speed, helping improve yard operations," railway officials said.
The upgrade is also expected to reduce delays. Earlier, trains often had to wait outside the station even when platforms were available because of limitations in the old track arrangement. The new crossing will allow smoother movement of trains entering and leaving the yard.
"The new setup significantly lowers the risk of derailments associated with deteriorated track points. It will also be connected to modern electronic motors and advanced signalling equipment, reducing technical failures such as improper point setting and signal-related issues," officials said.
"Although the block period had to be extended, its impact on train schedules was kept to a minimum, and the critical track replacement work was completed successfully," officials added.
