Navi Mumbai to Central Mumbai/Colaba

I'm staying with a friend in Navi Mumbai (Nerul). She doesn't know much about the area. She just moved here from Deli. So I have a few general questions.

Are there trains that connect Mumbai and Navi Mumbai? I want to go to the central area and Colaba.

Or would taking a cab be easier. In my Lonely Planet guide there isn't anything about Navi Mumbai or maps. I did manage to find one today online but I am unsure of the distances.

Thank you!

Hi,
You can catch trains to Mumbai CST (ST in short)from any station of Harbour line at Navi Mumbai (Vashi, Nerul, Belapur, Panvel are major stations). Mumbai CST is the last stop for the train, from their Colaba is walkable distance or you can hail a cab. The trains are there every 7 minutes or so for all godly hours D).

You can also go to Colaba from Navi Mumbai in a cab, however it will cost somewhere around Rs. 400, oneway.

Cabs are very expensive as compared to trains. Trains are also faster as traffic is bad once you enter Mumbai from Navi Mumbai.

Trains are frequent on the Navi Mumbai - CST (more popularly called VT, short for Victoria Terminus) route. The trains operate on what is called the Harbour Line section on Central Railway. In case you want to travel during rush hour (mornings 8.30-10.30 towards CST and evenings 5.30-8.30 towards Nerul) try and take a rickshaw to Vashi and then board a train starting from there. You could even buy a 1st class ticket in case you want to be comforatble. A 1st class ticket though expensive than a regular class, is still cheaper than a cab ride.

I like taking the train. I takes little more than an hour to go to Mumbai CST, the price Mumbai CST to Belapur first class was little more than 100 Rupies, so to Naval it should be similar.
Somewhere on the internet I found a timetable that showed connections roughly every 20 Minutes, and to my personal experience this seems to be right. You should really try to avoid rush hours, as the trains are really crowded then.

If anyone can point me to the website I'd appreciate it.

I'm trying to work out the value in getting a cab (early morning) from the airport to Kurla (local station) then a local train to Panvel.

The mainline trains take the long route (via Thane) to Panvel.

I noticed (last November) that Panvel is a terminus for some of the local trains and I'd imagine these trains take the quicker route (via Nerul/Vashi/Kurla) to VT.

I'm trying to work out if a connection could be made at Panvel for some of the southbound mainline trains.

Also, how busy are the Kurla-Panvel trains at about 7 or 8 in the morning? I know they won't be as busy as the trains going the other way, but will they be too busy for someone with luggage?

Thanks for any info.

I see 2 practical issues in boarding a train at Kurla for Panvel:

1. Though you are travelling against the rush hour in the morning, at Kurla a sizeable crowd usually boards the trains towards New Bombay. This is because Kurla is a junction on the main line and harbour line. Travelling 1st class can get you some respite.

2. There usually is a very long queue for tickets at Kurla. Though before 8 it should not be too much trouble, beyod 8 the crowds will start to swell.

My suggestion is that if you are looking for south bound trains (I presume u meant south India), the best bet is to make the connection at Dadar - it is simply more reliable.

this
site seems to have a fair amount of information.

From the airport catch a cab (or a rickshaw, cheaper) to Vile Parle Station. Catch in any train going towards Churchgate for Andheri. At Andheri cross platforms to Harbour line platform and catch any train starting from there for Mumbai CST. Get down at Wadala Road station. Catch the trains going towards Panvel from the same platform.
This way you can save some money as well as avoid the rush of Kurla. However changing two trains with heavy luggage will be an issue. A backpack and small handbags could be managed.

Cheers

Its better to take the rickshaw to kurla station. and then take the panvel train from there.

the rickshaw to kurla station should not be more than 50-60 rupees.

the international airport is actually in the middle of the western and cental suburbs. The distance to kural station from the airport is a little bit more or same as the distance to vileparle station.

hope you find this of help

Regards
Mani

Thanks everyone for the excellent info and the website link, some great info on that website Capt. (and it prompted me to start the 'Google Earth location' thread).

A couple of years ago I wanted to come into Mumbai on the harbour line, so I got a pre-paid taxi from the International airport to Kurla Terminus (then walked to Tilak Nagar station), the pre-paid cost about Rs 150 - 200 (can't remember the exact price), but the cab took a long time, maybe 40-50 minutes (06:00), I remember being shocked at the queue's at Tilak Nagar.

I'll have a look at all the options.

My thinking regarding Panval is that....by the time I get to Dadar, I could be at Thane, the train from Dadar takes 20-30 minutes longer to get to Panvel than the local train takes to get from Thane to Panvel, there are also many trains going to South India from Panvel that don't pass through Mumbai, the Laksadweep Exp. (for example) departs Panvel at 09:35 for it's journey through Goa to Kerala.

Many flights arrive at 4 or 5 in the morning, so this train from Panvel is a reasonable option, given that the 06:55 CST departure (Dadar 07:10) to Goa is too early (for those flight arrivals) and the 11:40 departure from Kurla Terminus gets to Goa too late in the day.

Thanks again for the great info.

I don't think, Kurla is that a bad station. When you have bought your ticket and walk to the platforms, there are signs stating departures and destinations. You should follow the destination "PL", which is one of the possibilites of trains to Navi Mumbai, otherwise just ask the people.

Hi,

can anyone suggest me good coffee shop. may be ccd or barista in vashi area...

i generally have ample of time nd ccd opr barista is the best place to read books. i can be contacted on nkpujari@gmail.com

Regards Nitin

i m from chennai need to go for interview in mumbai on 4th oct ,the specific place is

National Bulk Handling Corporation Ltd.[FTIL Group]
Plot No.10(First Floor),

Sector-26,Near Millennium Petrol Pump,

Kopri Gaon, Vashi,

Navi Mumbai-400 705,

Maharastra, India.

i want to know how to go for this address from mumbai.

please help me to send the route and transport source.

also i need a cheapest price of lodge in that area.

send your replys to pragadsh@yahoo.co.in,or 9500051439

thanking you,

prakadesh

Take the Harbour line from Kurla. Vashi is a big station.

Hello Prak,

The cheapest lodges etc will be in Dadar area. This is also mostly the station where your train from chennai will arrive into Mumbai. Other Station is the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT). This is near Kurla.

If you are staying in Dadar then take a Local train from Dadar to Kurla ( central Line) and then change at Kurla to the harbour Line train travelling in the direction of Vashi / Panvel.

At Vashi you will have to enquire at the bus depot about the bus that can take you to this location, alternatively you would be able to take a auto/ share auto.

Why dont you ask the company the directions to reach them from Vashi Station.

All the best
Mani