Mumbai Local Trains: Like Going to War?

navinkurian2002 · Nov 24th, 2007, 00:24

AArgh that got back memories of this beggar lying at bandra station with his wounds bleeding and everyone(commuters) goes by without even a second glance. mumbai meeri jaan ..

What really gets to me is those small kids who place those musical instruments in the local trains.Makes me wish i could do something to make their lives better..

steven_ber · Dec 22nd, 2007, 09:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven_ber

I'm in Lucknow waiting for a train, I just watched the Avid Assam Express (Bikaner, Delhi, Lucknow, Guwahati) on the platform and was close to tears.

The unreserved 2nd class compartments were some of the most crowded I've seen, every person who was 'lucky' enough to have a seat had someone sitting on their lap, there was someone sitting on the floor in front of these people, all the luggage racks had people sitting on them (not lying down, no room), everywhere else had people crowded very tightly.

You'd think there was no room for anyone else, but still they tried to board, I watched a coolie pass box after box through the exergency window, then the owner of the boxes climbed in through the window.

The really sad thing is, I could see that most of the passengers were Assamese, so they had another 34 hours of those conditions.

A photo would really show the horror, but I could never take a photo of such suffering.

The Sleeper Class carriages looked like pure luxury in comparison.

It made me realise how insignificant and unimportant we spoilt tourists are to Indian Railways.

Sorry folks, I was just checking some of the posts I made when I was in India and came across this one again.

There must have been over 400 people in each of those unreserved carriages, compare that to 72 in a Sleeper Class carriage or 18 in a First Class air con carriage.

Even at this very moment, there are probibly thousands of these overloaded carriages on the move in India, every second of every day.

Most of us are very lucky to be born where we were, both in terms of location and family status.

capt_mahajan · Dec 22nd, 2007, 10:01

Quote:

Most of us are very lucky to be born where we were, both in terms of location and family status

Chinese (I think) saying.. You are doomed the day you are born.

Not just on trains, many in India are otherwise just living one day at a time.

Looking at any future beyond that would drive me crazy, in their place.

edwardseco · Dec 22nd, 2007, 12:40

However, if you can travel off-peak it isn't quite as bad. I found a relatively decent compartment once and dove in. Then I noticed it was all ladies and they didn't seem happy to see me..

timeo · Jan 5th, 2008, 13:32

These photos and videos scare me. In the unpleasant oh my goodness, what have I got myself into kind of way.

Anyways, I have a question for you experts of the local suburban trains. I'm arriving from Aurangabad to Dadar Station and will need to take a train from Dadar to Lokmanya Tilak to catch my Netravati Exp. for Goa. The wikipedia entry on this seems to suggest that there's a Lokmanya Tilak Station that's specifically for suburban trains, and a separate LT Terminus station built for inter-city trains. Is this true?

Can I catch a train from Dadar to LTT station? (I guess I can, but the question is will I get ON). Or does it go to the suburban train station instead? Are they together? Separate? The train arrives in Dadar around 6AM, and I need to get to LTT before 11:30 which is approx. when the train leaves. Does the train run at 6AM? I'm carrying all my backpacking stuff with me, and this is starting to scare me. Thanks a lot for all of the info provided already, it definitely opened my eyes!

Cheers,
Tim

navinkurian2002 · Jan 5th, 2008, 13:35

Quote:

I guess I can, but the question is will I get ON

That is the main question. It all depends on how big your back back is and which train at what time you catch from dadar to LT

timeo · Jan 5th, 2008, 13:59

I checked out the schedules at http://www.sindhunagar.com/railway.php and realised that it comes with a frequency of every 5 minutes or so, which is of slightly less headways than a subway. How do I know which trains stop at Kurla? (Sorry if I'm asking really stupid questions). I understand that Kurla/Lokmanya Tilak station's code is C, so how do I know what goes where and stops where?

The backpack will pretty much contain everything I have, and I'm hoping to catch the earliest train possible to bypass "rush hour" aka every hour hehe.

navinkurian2002 · Jan 5th, 2008, 14:21

Hey timeo

The map here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai_Suburban_Railway is the most comprehensive.

The Central Railway Track on the link you posted seems to be really good
You will still need to ask a couple of people on the platforms in regards to which train goes to kurla.
http://www.sindhunagar.com/crlocal.html
http://www.mumbai-central.com/trains/

AvidTrekker · Jan 5th, 2008, 23:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by timeo

These photos and videos scare me. In the unpleasant oh my goodness, what have I got myself into kind of way.

Can I catch a train from Dadar to LTT station? (I guess I can, but the question is will I get ON). Or does it go to the suburban train station instead? Are they together? Separate? The train arrives in Dadar around 6AM, and I need to get to LTT before 11:30 which is approx. when the train leaves. Does the train run at 6AM? I'm carrying all my backpacking stuff with me, and this is starting to scare me. Thanks a lot for all of the info provided already, it definitely opened my eyes!

Cheers,
Tim

Assuming you will alight on time at Dadar at 6 AM, you can certainly take a train to LTT. Here's how...

Buy a local train ticket from Dadar to Tilak Nagar Railway station. First class fare around 57 rupees and ordinary class fare around 5 [five] rupees. [Carry change] First class travellers do not have to stand in the regular ticket queue. The first class coaches are marked with red diagonal stripes. [don't board the "ladies only" compartment by mistake][all marked & written in English so don't worry] First class coaches will be practically empty upto 8 AM.

Dadar to Kurla on the Central Railway in around 12 mins. [dadar, matunga, sion, kurla] [slowtrain] or seven mins [dadar to kurla straight][fast train].

At Kurla alight & change the platform to No. 6 [Harbour line]. All south bound trains are marked "CST Harbour" next to the driver's window. Catch a North bound train marked anything else. [panvel, belapur, vashi etc]

The very next station is Tilak Nagar station. Get down.

Walk to LTT [Lokmanya Tilak Terminus] in four to five minutes.

If I had a very heavy backpack [20 kilos] I would take a taxi from dadar to LTT for the convenience. Taxi fare around 120 to 150 rupees by the meter.

If carrying a lighter bacpack, take the trains... it'll be a great experience. 6 AM is a "off peak" hour. The trains start running at 4:00 AM.

timeo · Jan 6th, 2008, 06:53

So I'm right to assume that Kurla Station and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) are two different stations?

This sounds complicated, but I will try to manage. If worst comes to worst, there's always the taxi...

capt_mahajan · Jan 6th, 2008, 06:55

Yes they are.

timeo · Jan 6th, 2008, 06:57

Thanks for all your help everyone! I don't know what I'd do in planning for this trip without these forums and all of your help. Man, only 24 days left!!!!

navinkurian2002 · Jan 6th, 2008, 20:46

Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Bldg., Kurla.
http://wikimapia.org/100723/

AvidTrekker · Jan 7th, 2008, 18:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by timeo

So I'm right to assume that Kurla Station and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) are two different stations?

Yes, they are two different. Before it was formally named as Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, it was called the Kurla terminus coz of its proximity to Kurla. Many people including this writer made the mistake of going to Kurla only to discover that one had to go elsewhere...

Kurla is a suburban station where only local trains stop.

LTT is a bigger Terminus where only long distance Trains terminate (originate)

amyl · Jan 17th, 2008, 12:24

Quote:

LTT is a bigger Terminus

with a lot of chaos created by the taximen/automen at train arrivals. Need to take more care here.

Quote:

Man, only 24 days left!!!!

To compete with these guys. These are only 'some' of the whole lot.

Nov 24th, 2007, 00:24	#61
navinkurian2002 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai,India Posts: 736	AArgh that got back memories of this beggar lying at bandra station with his wounds bleeding and everyone(commuters) goes by without even a second glance. mumbai meeri jaan .. What really gets to me is those small kids who place those musical instruments in the local trains.Makes me wish i could do something to make their lives better.. __________________ It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare dream of meeting your heart's longing. Budget Hotels ]

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Dec 22nd, 2007, 12:40	#64
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,931	However, if you can travel off-peak it isn't quite as bad. I found a relatively decent compartment once and dove in. Then I noticed it was all ladies and they didn't seem happy to see me..

Jan 5th, 2008, 13:32	#65
timeo Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 12	These photos and videos scare me. In the unpleasant oh my goodness, what have I got myself into kind of way. Anyways, I have a question for you experts of the local suburban trains. I'm arriving from Aurangabad to Dadar Station and will need to take a train from Dadar to Lokmanya Tilak to catch my Netravati Exp. for Goa. The wikipedia entry on this seems to suggest that there's a Lokmanya Tilak Station that's specifically for suburban trains, and a separate LT Terminus station built for inter-city trains. Is this true? Can I catch a train from Dadar to LTT station? (I guess I can, but the question is will I get ON). Or does it go to the suburban train station instead? Are they together? Separate? The train arrives in Dadar around 6AM, and I need to get to LTT before 11:30 which is approx. when the train leaves. Does the train run at 6AM? I'm carrying all my backpacking stuff with me, and this is starting to scare me. Thanks a lot for all of the info provided already, it definitely opened my eyes! Cheers, Tim

Jan 5th, 2008, 13:59	#67
timeo Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 12	I checked out the schedules at http://www.sindhunagar.com/railway.php and realised that it comes with a frequency of every 5 minutes or so, which is of slightly less headways than a subway. How do I know which trains stop at Kurla? (Sorry if I'm asking really stupid questions). I understand that Kurla/Lokmanya Tilak station's code is C, so how do I know what goes where and stops where? The backpack will pretty much contain everything I have, and I'm hoping to catch the earliest train possible to bypass "rush hour" aka every hour hehe.

Jan 5th, 2008, 14:21	#68
navinkurian2002 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai,India Posts: 736	Hey timeo The map here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai_Suburban_Railway is the most comprehensive. The Central Railway Track on the link you posted seems to be really good You will still need to ask a couple of people on the platforms in regards to which train goes to kurla. http://www.sindhunagar.com/crlocal.html http://www.mumbai-central.com/trains/

Jan 6th, 2008, 06:53	#70
timeo Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 12	So I'm right to assume that Kurla Station and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) are two different stations? This sounds complicated, but I will try to manage. If worst comes to worst, there's always the taxi...

Jan 6th, 2008, 06:55	#71
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,105	Yes they are.

Jan 6th, 2008, 06:57	#72
timeo Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 12	Thanks for all your help everyone! I don't know what I'd do in planning for this trip without these forums and all of your help. Man, only 24 days left!!!!

Jan 6th, 2008, 20:46	#73
navinkurian2002 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai,India Posts: 736	Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Bldg., Kurla. http://wikimapia.org/100723/

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