Mumbai to Gujarat

I have a very old guidebook and it doesn't say which train station I will need to go to Gujarat (Varodra).

Based on that, I also wanted ideas for clean and safe accomodation in Mumbai near the train station I need (I'm female, travelling alone and arriving in Mumbai so I don't mind spending a little more if needs be, it is only for one night).

Also, is it quite difficult to get a train ticket to Gujarat. I will only be able to buy mine 24 hours in advance.


Thanks

The train station is named Mumbai Central on the Western Railway lines. You can buy a ticket at the nth hour, provided you buy the foreigner's quota [passport will be verified].

Generally the area behind the station is not where I would advise a female to stay. But on the Southern side there is a better area to stay.

Hotel Rosewood is a OK hotel; nothing great but aircon rooms etc. and Ok for a female travelling alone. Being in the middle of the city, rates are high. The telephone nos. are

+91 22 2494 0321 till 0327 [all nos]

I think you mean Vadodara (AKA Baroda).

Most trains to Vadodara depart from Mumbai Central.

Do you want to stay in Mumbai for a day?

What time does your flight arrive?

I ask because there is a way to avoid this if your flying into Mumbai and going to Vadodara or Ahmedabad.

The Shatabdi Express (train 2009) departs Mumbai Central at 06:25 and gets to Vadodara at 11:47 (this train does not run on Sundays)

Executive Chair Car (air con) = Rs 1035
Air-con Chair Car = Rs 530

The Shatabdi Express is one of Indian Railways best/fastest trains and food is included in the price.

A number of reservations (20 % I think) are held back to be sold on the morning of departure, these tickets are sold in a special kiosk near the departure platform. (this only happens with Shatabdi Express trains, this is the only Shatabdi on this route)


If the above is not an option, then you can (and will have to) book a reservation over the Internet and have the ticket delivered to a hotel in Mumbai.

Booking Indian Rail tickets from abroad: A Beginner’s Guide.

AvidT has suggested the best/only overnight train, there are also loads of daytime trains.

EDIT NOTE, I've cross posted with Avid T in this and the other thread - (this one)

I try not to advise tourists to rely on the Foreign Tourist Quota; I give an explanation for this in another post, so shall copy it to here.

It is worth pointing out to people interested in going further into Gujarat (Ahmedabad, Rajkot etc) that many Mumbai trains leave from Bandra Station which is quite a few km north of Mumbai Central.

Bandra has two stations - the local one for suburban trains - and the originating station for the longer distance trains to Gujarat. They are about a kilometre apart so don't cut things too fine with your travel plans!

As steven_ber asked the flight landing time is important.

If in the daytime, a connection from Bandra Terminus could be scheduled. The same Bandra Terminus is not a place where I would send a lone female from my family AT NIGHT [ day time NO PROBS ] Most flights land at night.... so.... at night time then, Mumbai Central is a relatively safer place to head to.

Yes, the shatabdi is an excellent train... we don't take it as Mumbai folks can't get up at 4:00 am to catch a 6:00 am train! The other train [ vadodara exp ] is good cuz we can finish the day's work and sleep peacefully on the train and wake up at vadodara in the morning!!