Reading indicators at Mumbai local train platforms

I remember the first time I travelled using Mumbai’s central / harbour railway line. I was completely confused whether BL means Belapur / Badlapur and I almost landed in the wrong train.

Recently, quiz-master Derek O’Brien traveled in Mumbai local trains to understand commuters’ grievances. One of the things he found most difficult was reading indicators at the platforms on stations. Obviously, for a first time traveler on a particular route, reading indicators is a tough task.

How on earth would you know that K is not Kurla, but C stands for Kurla!
Unless of course, your friends have told you what those abbreviations mean. I would request the railways to put up boards at every railway station / platform in Mumbai explaining the abbreviated forms of stations.

Until, I am heard, here’s my little attempt to help you out. So if you are finding difficulty understanding the indicators, keep the list below handy.

Reading indicators at Mumbai local train CENTRAL / HARBOUR LINE platforms made easy:

A – Ambernath

AD - Andheri

AN - Asangaon

BL - Badlapur

BR - Belapur

C – Kurla

ST – Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus

D - Dadar

DI – Dombivli

G - Ghatkopar

K – Kalyan

KP – Khopoli

N – Kasara

Pl - Panvel

Nu - Nerul

S – Karjat

T - Thane

Tl – Titwala

VA – Vashi

Vd - Wadala

Reading indicators at Mumbai local train WESTERN LINE platforms made easy:

A – Andheri

B – Bandra

C – Churchgate

Bo – Borivli

D - Dadar

G – Goregaon

M – Malad

V – Virar

BS - Vasai Road

BY – Bhayander

PS - Do let me know if anything above is incorrect / if something is missing.

24 comments:

Aparna said...

B on harbor means Bandra
AD means Andheri
Bo is Borivli on all lines

annucool15 said...

Thanks Aparna! Will update it right away. BTW, you have very nice blogs

Samod said...

Vashi is VA
Panvel is PL and not P

annucool15 said...

thanks domas!

Tareq said...

Vasai is BS and not VS.... this abbreviation means basind which is the old name for vasai..

annucool15 said...

thanks for your contribution tareq!

Anonymous said...

i am new to travelling by trains. is there a train from thane to vasai (direct/indirect)?

Anonymous said...

dombivali is DI not DL

Anonymous said...

dombivali is DI not DL

annucool15 said...

thanks for the DI correction... was a huge error

Abhishek said...

wadala is vd not w nerul is nu

annucool15 said...

thanks abhishek!

Unknown said...

On Harbour line on western Railway Panvel is indicated by PN from Andheri to Mahim and PL onwards please add PN for Panvel in western railway indicators. Similarly Add BC for Mumbai Central local in Western railway indicators

annucool15 said...

thanks ramesh!

Sujith said...

Missed the biggest one. VT is ST and not CST

annucool15 said...

thanks sujith for pointing that out

Sunny Keswani said...

Hi, this is not a comment but a suggestion on ULHASNAGAR station platform no.2 there is 1 newly installed indicator which is malfunctioning since last 1 weak instead of 3:25 it shows 3:29 and also false sealing on ticketing counter are in bad conditions it might fall on someone and accident may happen so please take care of it.

Neha said...

i think there is an abbreviation for trains upto mumbai central too! runs in the morning from churchgate! don't remember it though, but there are trains between churchgate and mumbai central!

sounds like abuses, but it's either MC or BC :P

annucool15 said...

Hey Sunny, sorry for the late revert. I hope the indicator problem is rectified. About the false ceiling, I would suggest you bring it to the notice of the station manager there. Since I have not seen the condition, I won't be able to describe it to the authorities. You can also try the helpline number - 98333 31111.

Please let me know if they rectify the situation.

annucool15 said...

@Neha - hey long time! MC BC??? never thought abt this!

Unknown said...

There is a specific reason why stations like Kasara, Karjat and Kurla have weird indicator marks. Kasara stands for "N" as the lines branch out towards the north-east from Kalyan while Karjat stands for "S" as the line branches out towards the south-east from Kalyan. Kurla gets its symbol as a legacy of the British rule since the name was "Coorla" as mentioned in ancient GIPR documents.

annucool15 said...

@Akshay - Thanks for the lovely insights and all the useful and interesting comments

Anonymous said...

Dadar is D on both the lines.

Try including Borivali under Central/harbour abbreviations.

There's, if I ain't wrong, a 8.37 PM train to Borivali from CST!

annucool15 said...

Thank you... have corrected it