14th to 16th August MEGA BLOCK - First and last Harbour line trains timing

As reported earlier, the 48-hour long Mumbai local trains mega block on Central and Harbour lines will start from 14th August 2009. The mega block might cause some inconvenience to the commuters, but we shouldn’t mind since it’s for a good purpose – remodeling of Masjid station.
Now if you are planning to travel by local trains just before / after the mega block, you may want to keep the timings handy. Listed below is the timetable of Harbour Line local trains to and from CST station on 14th to 16th August:

Harbour Line - 14th August Train Timings
Last local train from CST station - 10 pm
Last local train to reach CST station - 9:56 pm

Harbour Line - 15th August Train Timings
No trains will leave from CST or arrive at CST

Harbour Line - 16th August Train Timings
First local train from CST station – 11:50 pm
First local train to reach CST station – 11:33 pm

14th to 16th August MEGA BLOCK - First and last Central line trains timing

As reported earlier, the 48-hour long Mumbai local trains mega block on Central and Harbour lines will start from 14th August 2009. The mega block might cause some inconvenience to the commumega block will start from 14th August 2009ters, but we shouldn’t mind since it’s for a good purpose – remodeling of Masjid station.

Now if you are planning to travel by local trains just before / after the mega block, you may want to keep the timings handy. Listed below is the timetable of Central line local trains to and from CST station on 14th to 16th August:

Central Line / Main Line - 14th August Train Timings
Last local train from CST station - 10 pm
Last local train to reach CST station - 9:51 pm

Central Line / Main Line - 15th August Train Timings
No trains will leave from CST or arrive at CST

Central Line / Main Line - 16th August Train Timings
First local train from CST station – 11:30 pm
First local train to reach CST station – 11:25 pm

Swine Flu: Keep your mouth and nose covered in local trains

It was a sad sight at Koparkhairane station in the morning. Almost everyone had covered their mouth with a handkerchief / mask. Though I was impressed noticing how people are taking precautions, I was upset thinking about the state of local train travelers. The same people who I see chatting away, laughing, gossiping, fighting and joking around in the train wore fear on their faces. It hurts, it really hurts.

I appreciate those who are taking care by covering their mouth and face. I heard people saying that they are not using a mask / cloth since ‘no one else around is doing so’. If you do cover your mouth and nose, you are doing good to yourself and your fellow commuters.

I urge all the commuters to take adequate precautions. I pray no one else be infected with Swine Flu.

Andheri local train rams into Borivli train at Mahim station

I am still in a state of disbelief as I watch the news about an Andheri local train ramming into a Borivli / Borivali train at Mahim station on Sunday, 9th August 2009. A local train to Borivli was stationary at Mahim when an Andheri bound train collided with it from behind at around 1:15 in the afternoon. Thankfully it was a Sunday and as of now there aren't any news about any major casualties.

The officials are yet to confirm the cause of the collision - whether it was a human error or technical fault. Whatever it be, Mumbai just can't afford an unfortunate incident like this.

Andheri To Vasai Local Trains Timetable

Local trains start from Andheri To Vasai station at the following timings:
05:06
06:56 fast train
08:18
10:25 fast train
14:30
16:16 fast train
16:39
16:49
20:25 fast train
20:37
21:10
21:57

Dadar To Borivli / Borivali Fast Trains Timetable

Fast local trains start from Dadar to Borivli / Borivali station at 18:35 and 20:23 hours.

Dadar To Bhayandar Fast Trains Timetable

Listed below is the timing of fast trains starting from Dadar to Bhayandar station:
19:39 and 13:12 hours
Do update if there’s any change in this timing. Am a bit unsure if the timing is 19:39 or 9:39, it would be great and helpful to fellow commuters if you confirm this.

Don’t Spit / Swachch Yatra Campaign by Railways

Am I dreaming? The railways in Mumbai has started an array of initiatives for the betterment of the life of the commuters. The SMS campaign where commuter suggestions are welcome and considered any time... The full-fledged work on having 12 rakes in most of the trains and improvising tracks... Regular announcements to alert people... Drive to stop track-crossing... Introducing new trains, new routes... And now the super duper cleanliness drive! Wow, seems like in no time we’ll be proud to tell the world about the goodness of travelling by Mumbai local trains.

The latest by railways is the Don’t Spit campaign. Had been hearing clear announcements at Elphinstone / Parel station warning people against spitting. The announcements also inform commuters about the punishment. The messages go something like this – krupaya idhar udhar na thunkein (please don’t spit here and there).

Thanks railways for taking this so seriously and imposing fine is necessary. It will really help in maintaining cleanliness. I am tired stopping people when I see them littering / spitting. In some cases, people stop. But then there are these shameless commuters who just say ‘you have no right to stop me from spitting / littering’ and continue their act.

It would help if some of the concerned commuters are given the right / ID cards so that they are empowered to stop the wrongdoers.

Once again, thank you railways!

New CST-Panvel Ladies Special Trains

Ladies travelling on the CST-Panvel railway route may now rejoice... perhaps.

On 5th August 2009 at 4 pm (IST), Minister of Railways Mamata Banerjee is to flag off two new ladies special trains in Mumbai. These trains will start plying on the Panvel-CST route from 6th August 2009. While the ladies special train from Panvel to CST will leave at 8:48 am (reaching CST at 10:09 am), the one from CST to Panvel will start at 5:55 pm (reaching Panvel at 7:12 pm). Good move and kudos to the continuously improving railways.

But then I have one query – do we really need these trains to run at the time mentioned above? I regularly travel on the CST-Panvel route. Kurla is a prime station, where many people alight and board the train, generally those who need to change routes. Now, one may notice that the two ladies special trains reach Kurla at 9:38 am and 6:23 pm. I really feel and believe many of you will agree that if the morning ladies special train left some half-an-hour earlier and the evening ladies special train started half-an-hour later, it would have done much good. Come on, how many of us need to reach our morning destination station, say CST, as late as 10:09 in the morning? How many of us leave from office to reach, say CST, at 5:55 in the evening?

I wonder if commuter opinion has been considered before deciding on the timing of these trains. If yes, and if this was the best possible schedule, then great! If not, then will the railways mind taking a quick poll?

In any case, I would like to really thank the railways for being so thoughtful so as to add to the ladies special services.

PS - Will update this blog with the timing of the train reaching every station soon. Do visit again to check out.