Mumbai Local Trains: Like Going to War?

Fullred

I'd really love to hear the opinion of the IndiaMike Mumbai folks on this issue:

I'm in the process of finalizing a really nice job at a very good software MNC in Mumbai. They are located in Goregaon and Andheri. I will be staying in Dadar (with family).

My idea is to take the local train to work. According to my family, Dadar to Goregaon takes about 45 minutes by train.

However, some friends I have in Mumbai said there is no way in hell I am going to be able to survive the trains during rush hours. They literally said it's like going to war and that I should figure out alternative transportation methods.

So OK guys, is it really that bad? I mean, say I buy a monthly train pass for 1st class. Is that still as bad as they say? Please don't hesitate to be brutally honest.

Fullred

Annett

You gotta be kidding! Have you ever watched the commuter trains in Mumbai?
You are likely to run the (highest) risk of committing suicide!

Just check the blog The Sport of Rush Hour Train Boarding in Mumbai India, you might change your mind about using the train every morning while working in Mumbai.

Tell us how you will decide, so we can include you into our early morning pooja.

Bigzero

Well, on the other hand, you might just start enjoying the whole experience. All depends on how you view it

There is a certain "knack" in using the mumbai commuter train. The faster you pick it up, the better for you.

However, it can be tiresome when it becomes a routine.

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amyl

YES....it's indeed like a war unless you follow the 'rules' there. Just OBSERVE the way people behave in the first couple of days and then try to imitate just as they do. If you do a step different you will suffer.....

But yes....the snaps you see in the above link are more of the general class. Its marginally less tensed in First Class....while boarding and alighting....but u will have to face the ppl on the platforms. Boarding and alighting are the only times where there are chances of getting some hellish experiences. Time on platforms is safer

Well I have seen westerners actually commuting in the same trains. They seem to manage it quite well...may be they got used to it and followed the 'rules' there.

So taking adequate care and bringing your tolerance level to a new high...u will survive the pushing on the trains.

If this is your first time in Mumbai...expect a lot of dirt, stinking at the stations...besides sweating owing to the climate...that means all the ppl around you wud be sweating if u r cramped in the train

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Fullred

Oh. My. God.

What the hell is that? This can't be for real.

Fullred

Thanks for the inside info Amy. I'm quite discouraged now to be honest. That's seriously no way to travel.

I mean, if it's so crowded inside, how do you even get out at the station you need to get out at?

Are first class cabins equally crowded?

mridula

Welcome to India, we give crowded a different meaning

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mridula

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Bigzero

To get out:

1) you have to know whether the platform comes on left or right If you are a regular commuter, you will know. Otherwise ask people around you.
2) move and take your position near the correct door
3) you will find others too crowding near the door - if you want to be sure you ask them whether they are getting down at the next station. If they arent, tell them you want to get down and push past them - they will adjust for you.
4) brace yourself as the train comes to a halt
5) make sure you get down quickly with the main flow . If you hesitate, you will meet the incoming group head on and then you just wont be able to get down.
6) if you miss the station, repeat steps at next station

be aware of pickpocketing - happens so often when you get on or off trains.

I am not a regular mumbai commuter, just speaking from my limited experience . Hope this helps

Mio

Hi Fullred,
I used the suburban trains once with my girl friend and 2 big backpacks. We were lucky some Indians have given us some protection. You never get nearer to indian life...

Fullred

Thank you for the advice BigZero, but I just don't see myself travelling like that day in day out. In that crowd. Would you happen to know if first class cabins are equally bad?

Mio, you are indeed very lucky that you were helped out by the Indians in the train. I won't get such star treatment though, because I am a person of Indian origin and will fade right into the crowd there.

Fullred

steven_ber

I saw a space on that train, just below the armpit of the man in white.

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rahulcal

Hi ,

This indeed is the miracle of Mumbai suburban trains ! :-) I travel in it every day - am a recent joineee but then driving down and getting stuck on the road for hours on end left me with no choice but this .

However a few clarifications here :

FullRed -Mumbai travels to work from North ( where most residential suburbs are) to South ( where all offices are) . Hence the rush . In your case you would be moving in the opposite direction.

The trick here is that you get on to a train which starts from your nearest station - for Dou dadar would give you plenty of starting trains for Andheri.Getting down however may be tough.

Likewise Andheri again is a big station so you would get plenty of starting trains heading for dadar and again in the direction opposite to the crowd.

However having said that it is a difficult thing and not something which you would want to get into. Would suggest you use a car and later see if you can survive it.

Just a curious question - why are you staying in Dadar - Andheri itself is a decent residential area ...

Anyways hope this helps .


Cheers

amyl

Damn!!! I hate to be in that situation ...but u often get into that on these trains

and then Imagine u sitting on the inner side of the bench(so u will be the 4th or at times 5th person sitting on a 3 person bench) with ur head COMPLETELY besieged between the 'juniors' of the ppl standing all around you. Damn!! Simply close your eyes and listen to ur player.

Fullred, just add some dirt and stinking to the usual experience of commuting in any cosmo city train - be it NYC or London....it is crowded like any other big city!! Here in Singapore during the rush hours I get the same push-n-cramped experience as in Mumbai but minus the dirt and smells....here I have to face that typical body odor of a particular National. Its worse than the Mumbai stinking [yuck]. So its not all that bad, you see. Its just a part of the city life.

BigZero has put exactly the things u will need to do(I was going to put that way but he already did it so well).

I reiterate some points

1. TALK - talk to the ppl around about the stations. They are very helpful and sometimes you will get some tips from them...like 'the next station will be very crowded be quick in pushing and getting off or u will be pushed INSIDE by the incoming flux'. Be very careful about the platform sides. U will never know it without talking to the fellow passengers. If they do not understand English just say "platform" and give a 'which way' gesture. They will tell you.

2. Always pur ur wallet, IPOD, handset in ur front pocket of the pants. NEVER in ur upper pocket of ur shirt or pants' back pockets.

3. PUSH


and YES....the 1st class trains are also equally crowded but there is not much pushing. You won't have a bad time in that. Tho I doubt if you will ever get a chance to sit in ur daily commute as u will be joining and leaving the line from in-between stations during the rush hours.

Take it easy just follow the 'rules' there - push. . A Michigan friend - a hefty guy - used to enjoy traveling in the trains. As he gets prepared to alight he used to give a war cry.......and join the crowd pushing . Its fun!

Just get used to it and u will be through.

"Virar fast"
"Churchgate jane wali dhimi local plaform no 4 per aayegi"
"Virar karita jalad local platform kramank 5 var yet aahe"

Oh! Started missing Mumbai as I was typing the above quotes....

Annett

...no doubt about that!

capt_mahajan

Unless you are a sardine, there is no way you are going to like travelling by local train in Mumbai. Specially in the monsoon, when many windows are shut and it can get stifling.

But, as rahulcal said, you will be travelling against the 'office rush' direction, both ways. Warning: Do not visualise empty compartments off peak times. Not true.

And first class is equally bad. Years ago, somebody told me that the only differnce there was, you sometimes smelled Old Spice there instead of sweat.

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