Bombay Railway

incitatus

BBC 4 has made a programme called "Bombay Railway" made along the lines of "Monsoon Railway" No dates set ..."coming soon"

Let's hope they notice "Bombay" has been Mumbai for quite a few years now......

Mickey S

It's going to be shown on BBC4 on Wed 18 July 9pm-10pm and Thu 19 July 9pm-10pm.

I'm sure it's called Bombay Railway for a reason.

CliveG

Great programme.
Two things stuck in my mind:
1)I wish the Indian railway company could run British Rail as the percentage of trains running on time in India is impressive compared to ours.

2)I think that it was stated that the cost per mile for a passenger was about less than Rs1. On that basis a train journey from the south coast of the U.K. to London would cost about 70 pence (approx Rs 65) where as a recent journey from Southampton to London cost me £55 (approx Rs4400)!!

the irish indian

Hi There,
Yes this is a fantastic Documentary. Part 2 is on BBC4 tonight.
I really enjoyed last nights episode although the wife and i cried most of the way through it at the plight of the 'platform children.'

The fare worked out at 6 paise which is less than a penny per mile.Essential viewing!!!

Also i see there is a series of programmes coming up on the BBC celebrating India and Pakistans 60th year of independance.
Great Stuff.
BBC 4 seems to show a lot of India related programmes at the moment including, Empires Children, Indian School and Office Tigers.

Regards,
Remy

__________________
"If you cry because the sun has gone out of you life, your tears will prevent you from seeing the stars" Rabindranath Tagore

CliveG

The plight of some of the kids is sad but against that the guy who was a railway kid but now runs businesses, looks after the kids and runs the railway ambulance was testament to his determination to improve his lot in life as was the woman who was hawking goods on the train. What an ending to her story - being able to go and buy a new build for the first time for her family after saving much of her earnings- brilliant.

What concerned me most was the fate of the slum dwellers - were they just abandoned or as suggested if they had the right papers did they get rehoused? I wish the documentary had followed them to find out what happened to them.

the irish indian

Hi Clive

OMG, that bit was heart wrenching.Some of them had been living there for 40 years and then had to watch as their dwellings were tore down around them. Left with nothing and nowhere to go.

Brilliant stories i agree, the woman hawker and the ex railway boy. What also was great was the way they want to give back to society.

Hope tonights isnt as heart wrenching or me and the wife will be in floods of tears again.

Regards,
Remy