The incident occurred when the second coach of a local from Ambernath entering CST on platform number five derailed at the entrance to the station around 8.30 am. This blocked traffic on platforms five and six. The rest of the coaches were taken away while repair work was carried out on the two compartments. They were put back on the rails by 11.30 am and platform number six was opened for traffic at 12.45 pm. The derailment resulted in trains being grouped one behind the other, detaining each for 15-25 minutes. They were then diverted to the platform on the suburban side. ``Some of the locals were also taken on platforms on the long distance concourse, whenever space was available,'' said a Central Railwayspokesperson.

Arrival and departure announcements were made regularly but passengers took a while getting used to the alternative arrangement. ``For the first time in my five years in the city, I got on to a train from a suburban station and got down on a platform meant for long distance trains,'' said Shekaran Nair, who works in the Fort area.