You’re reading this article so you’re off to a good start. Before you leave your internet sanctuary do a little research on the route. Note down your stop, how many stops you’re travelling, your destination station and the station before your destination. You can use the map above for this planning. If you have a smartphone with internet you can also use the app linked below. But don’t rely on this! Often my handwritten notes beat my friend’s smartphone that is desperately searching for connectivity.
Carefully choose when to go. In general, the peak hours ( 9-10:30am and 6-8pm) should be avoided unless you would like a free body massage, as our guides like to joke. In particular, avoid going South in the morning (when everyone is going to work) and North in the evening (when everyone is headed home).
Buying Tickets
When you enter the station, search for the ticket windows which are usually indicated by large crowds of people. Below is a picture of the ticket windows at Churchgate station. Technically, each ticket window has two lines: one for second class tickets (to the right) and one for first class tickets (to the left). This means if there is a long line and you feel up to it, you can walk right up to the front, elbow your way in and buy a first class ticket and no one will bat an eye. Seriously.
Tickets counters at Chruchgate Station. The platforms are to the right.
When you get the ticket attendant’s attention (or to get their attention) clearly say: [destination station] + first/second class + single journey/return and add in a nice head wobble for good measure. A first class ticket will cost between Rs 10 and Rs 50 depending on how far you want to go. Riding first class will help you avoid most of the crowds, so we recommend splurging.
Finding Four Platform
Needless to say, Mumbai train stations were not designed with tourists in mind. The sign boards (if there are any) require a bit of decoding to understand what they mean. Here you go:The platform sign demystified.
If you’re going South then it’s pretty simple, almost all trains end at Churchgate so just look for a “C”. If you’re going north there will be a few different options.If you are ever in doubt, just ask someone! Better yet, ask two or more people to make sure you are getting the correct information.
Where to stand on the platform
OK so you’ve made it to the correct platform, now what? Trains are only on the platform for a few seconds so it’s a smart idea to move to the right part of the platform before the train arrives. The platform is colour coded to indicate the various classes and male/female cars and sometimes there is even a sign. First class is denoted by red and either white or yellow stripes. Female cars are green and either white or yellow.
Knowing When To Get Off
Your car might have a train line map above the door that will tell you all of the stations so you can follow along, but there is also a chance that you will get a car with a Marathi only map. Stations are usually announced over the speaker in Marathi/Hindi/English, but that is not always guaranteed.
To keep track of where you are, check the station sign at each station. Here is what they look like:Mahim Junction Platform Sign.
The English version is always at the bottom. Remember how we wrote down the station before your destination station? This is so you are guaranteed a 3 minute warning before you need to get off.
How To Get Off The Train
If it’s crowded, you will want to be sure to get as close as possible to the door. To do this first ask someone which side the platform will be on. If they don’t speak English, pointing to a door and saying “station?” should do the trick. You can also just observe which side people are queuing up on. Next, make sure you’re actually in the queue! Ask the person standing in front of you “[station name]?” If they say no, move in front of them and repeat the question. If they say yes, you’re in the right spot, just stick right behind them and get off quickly — people will start jumping off (and trying to jump on) before the train has even stopped.
A Couple Extra Tips:
Dadar Station is the busiest station in the city and it is absolute madness at peak hours. Whether that is a reason to avoid it or go experience it is up to you!
Only buy tickets at the ticket windows and not from people that offer them to you outside.
The official smart phone application for Mumbai local trains is called M-Indicator, it’s great, provided that you have a reliable data connection.
If the train is crowded it is a good idea to wear you backpack around the front.
And finally, hang halfway out the door, look off into the distance and imagine that you’re a Bollywood movie star! (At your own risk, of course)
FACTS OF MUMBAI TRAIN
1. Part of a Rich Legacy
Mumbai’s local train network today is actually a part of history. It is a part of what was the first railway network to be built, not just in India, but the whole of Asia. The infrastructure was built by the British and the first train on the continent ran between Thane and Bori Bunder stations, the latter that was rebuilt as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, which still stands proud to this day. The momentous first train journey took place on the 16th of April, in 1853, along a 34 km route.
2. Size of the Rail Network
When most people think of Mumbai’s local trains they tend to think of trains plying from Churchgate to Borivali, or from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus to Thane. But, the rail network is a little more complicated than that with various meandering routes, the city’s ever-expanding suburbs, and different railway corridors. The total length of rail lines that form the local network adds up to over 400 kms.
3. Scale of Train Services
Mumbai locals are rightly called the lifeline of the city, with almost all of the city’s inhabitants relying on them to get to work or other destinations at some point of time. Many of them rely on these services on a daily basis. This is why Mumbai Suburban Railways operates over 2,300 train services every single day.
4. Managing the Impossible
Mumbai’s local rail network is the busiest commuter train system in the world; with 7.5 million people using the trains to commute daily, it is no surprise that overcrowding, here, reaches epic proportions. However, this is no mean feat, considering that the railways manage to ferry more people each day than you will find in an entire country like Switzerland or Bhutan. Annually, the local railways transport 2.2 billion passengers, which is about a third of the world’s population.
5. No Down Time
Mumbai’s local trains rarely stop functioning and they do not get much of a rest. Each night the railway lines will only fall silent for a brief interval of one and a half hour, between 2:05 am, when the last train pulls into Borivali, and 4:15 am, when the first trains sets out from Churchgate. On the Central line too, the last train reaches Karjat at 2:45 am, while the first train leaves from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus at 4:12 am.
6. The Local Network Includes 4 Corridors
Mumbai’s local train network doesn’t ply along a single line, but is divided into 4 corridors to cater to the vast urban sprawl of the city. The Western Line, which stretches from Churchgate to Dahanu Road covers 120 km; the Central Line stretches across 54 km, from CST to Kalyan, where it branches out, with the line going to Kasara taking an additional 67 km, and the line that carries on to Khopoli adding another 61 km; the Harbor Line connects Andheri to CST and is just 49 km long; the Trans-Harbour Line, which is the most recent addition connects Thane with Navi Mumbai and runs a length of just 20 km.
7. Remarkable Frequency
Despite the colossal scale of operations, Mumbai’s railways manage to ensure excellent connectivity, with local trains plying between all the major and minor stations at regular intervals. There is never an interval of more than 4-5 minutes between train arrivals and departures, ensuring minimal waiting time.
8. Seating in Locals
While travelling in the general compartments or ladies compartments of Mumbai’s locals there’s an unwritten rule when it comes to seating. Despite the design of seats for 3 people it is normal for everyone to squeeze tight to accommodate a fourth person. To not do so, will be considered rude and on rare occasions can lead to arguments. The fourth seat is uncomfortable, as you’re practically falling off, but it beats having to stand for an hour or more.
9. Part of Mumbai’s Food Supply-Chain
To most outsiders, Mumbai is best defined not by its skyscrapers and malls, but by its local trains and dabbawalas. Yes, they are both an integral part of the city, as Mumbaikars cannot function without their food. Dabbawalas who practically run the city’s food delivery service depend primarily on the city’s local trains to get to their various destinations.
10. Symbol of Mumbai’s Resilience
Mumbai has borne the brunt of several disasters and terrorist attacks, including bomb blasts in 1993, 2003, and 2006. Most recently, the network also came under attack when terrorists opened fire at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, killing 60 commuters in 2008. Despite the brutality and enormous damage caused by all of the attacks, train services have always resumed swiftly, helping restore normalcy during troubled times. It took just three hours for service to be restored after the deadly train bombings of 2006.
11. Accessible to Rich and Poor
Mumbai’s local trains are accessible to all, preserving the welcoming ethos of the city. Although housing and many other services in India’s biggest metropolis may now be unaffordable to many, traveling is still fairly easy thanks to the low pricing of tickets. Fares for Mumbai locals are among the cheapest in the world, with commuters travelling distances of around 120 km for as little as Rs. 30, which is less than 50 cents in American cents.
12. First class compartment
For anyone willing to shell out a little more for the comfort of cushioned seating and smaller crowds there are also first class compartments on each train. At peak hours, there is little respite from the crowds however, whether you travel by first or general class. Mumbai’s rail network is apparently the only local one to have a separate first class compartment.
13. Overcrowding and Overflowing
Mumbai’s local trains give a whole new meaning to the concept of overcrowding. Trains are literally overflowing during peak hours, with commuters spilling out of the doors, windows and every nook and cranny. Wherever you can get a foothold, or even a toehold, you will find someone hanging on. Despite the impeccable railway service, Mumbai’s infrastructure is stretched and is ill-equipped to handle her burgeoning population. Sadly, commuters are forced to take big risks, gambling with their lives, just to get to work on time. It isn’t uncommon to see commuters climbing onto the tops of trains or sitting on the narrow connecting-pipes, between coaches.
14. Mortalities from Train Travel
The overcrowding and associated dare-devilry of Mumbai’s train commuters may be fascinating, but there is a huge price that they pay. Every year, almost 2000 people are killed along the rail network. In the decade of 2002-12, 36,512 people lost their lives, while 36,688 were injured. Many of these fatalities result from people crossing tracks, but a huge number also result from commuters falling out of crowded trains and due to electrocution when travelling on the roofs of trains.
15. Types of Train Services
To outsiders, talk of ‘superfast’ or ‘slow’ trains can be quite confusing, especially when it is fairly obvious that all of the trains travel at roughly the same speed. These terms are used to describe the type of service, with ‘slow’ trains halting at all stations, ‘fast locals’ skipping certain stations, and so on. In a busy city like Mumbai's, every minute counts and trains that are classified as ‘superfast’ or ‘double-fast’ could save you as much as 15-20 minutes. In addition, there are also a few ‘Ladies Special’ trains that run along scheduled routes at fixed intervals.
