Mumbai Local - Explained

The history of the EMU service in Bombay dates back to 1927. The first EMU service ran between the stations Victoria terminus (Now CST) and Kurla. The EMU consisted of one motor rake followed by 4 coaches. The fabrication was completely wooden then. It is now kept at National railway museum, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. It was constructed by Camel Liard and Co. and was in service in 1928.

The lives of millions of people who live in Mumbai and suburbs opens with the starting of the local trains, namely the Harbour, the Central and the Western, which awaken the city to a new day. They are not as fast as the Bullet Train or as smooth as the trains plying on the magnetic tracts. But Mumbai's local trains are considered to be one of the most efficiently run commuter services in the world.
There are as many as 961 local train services plying on the Western line carrying over 23 million commuters everyday while the 1070 services on the Central and the Harbour play hosts to over 30 million commuters daily. The railway tracks in the entire city rest for a meagre four hours a day. It is during these night hours that the working staffs of the railways, repairs and services complete the network for the next day.
The local trains are the main arteries of Mumbai. A halt or a disruption of the local train services would mean an imminent standstill to the thriving activities of the entire communication network, a near complete motionless city. It is stated that over eleven million people travel by the Indian railways every day. And interestingly, out of these eleven million, over five million travel every day by the local trains in Mumbai and its suburbs, in all directions.

The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) formerly known as Victoria Terminus (VT) makes a striking sight with its cathedral-like spires, arches and turrets. Local and outstation trains ply from here. CST and the Church Gate station are the busiest centres right from the wee hours until the last service. Located at the heart of the city, these stations are a part of Mumbai's pictorial encyclopaedia.

Zones

Two zonal Railways, the Western Railways(WR) and the Central Railways(CR), operate the Mumbai Suburban Railway system. At present, the fast corridors on Central Railway as well as Western Railway are shared for long distance (main line) and freight trains.

Western Line
Two corridors (one local and other through) on Western Railway run northwards from ChurchGate terminus parallel to the west coast up to Virar(60 km). These corridors are popularly referred to as 'Western Line' by the locals mainly because it is operated and owned by the Western Railways.

Central Line
Two corridors (one local and other through) on Central Railway run from Chatrapatti Shivaji Terminal (CST) to Kalyan(54 km), from where it bifurcates into Kalyan–Kasara(67 km) in the north-east and Kalyan–Karjat–Khopoli(61 km) in south-east. These corridors are popularly referred to as 'Central Line' or 'Main Line' by the locals.

Harbour Line
The 5th corridor on Central Railway runs from CST to Raoli Junction (11 km) from where the line splits. One line goes north west to join WR at Mahim and goes up to Andheri (11 km), and the other goes eastward to terminate at Panvel (39 km) via Navi Mumbai. This corridor is popularly referred to as 'Harbour Line' by the locals.

Stations

Western line

Within Greater Mumbai: Churchgate, Marine Lines, Charni Road, Grant Road, Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi, Lower Paral, Elphinstone Road, Dadar, Matunga Road, Mahim, Vandre, Khar Road, Santacruz, Vile Parle, Andheri, Jogeshwari, Goregaon, Malad, Kandivali, Borivali, Dahisar.

Outside Greater Mumbai: Mira Road, Bhaindar, Naygaon, Vasai Road, Nallasopara, Virar, Vaitarna, Saphala, Kelve Road, Palghar, Umroli, Boisar, Vangaon, Dahanu Road

Central (Main) line

Within Greater Mumbai: Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus(CST), Masjid, Sandhurst Road, Bhaykhala, Chinchpokli, Currey Road, Paral, Dadar, Matunga , Sheev, Kurla, Vidyavihar, Ghatkopar, Vikroli, Kanjurmarg, Bhandup, Mulund, Thane

Outside Greater Mumbai: Thane, Kalva, Mumbra, Diwa, Dombivli, Thakurli, Kalyan
At Kalyan, the route spilts up into two specific sections.
1. Karjat (100 km from CST) 2. Kasara

Harbour line

Within Greater Mumbai: Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Masjid, Sandhurst Road, Dockyard Road, Reay Road, Cotton Green, Shivdi, Vadala road

Outside Greater Mumbai: Vashi, Sanpada, Juinagar, Nerul, Seawoods, Belapur, Khargar, Mansarovar, Khandeshwar, Panvel.

Mumbai Local Train

I was new to the Mumbai (Bombay, India), coming from the capital, New Delhi. I was warned that travelling in the Mumbai local train would be quite an experience for a newbie. And I was told to avoid it in the beginning of my stay.

These trains are generally overcrowded throughout the day and night too!!! And especially during peak hours they take a sea of humanity with them. I had heard harrowing tales of how newbies to the locals are virtually dragged out of the train by the crowd. You never get out of the train but it's said that you are pushed and pulled out. I never believed it though, until I actually faced.

I got out at Mulund station on my first evening journey on the train. I saw people jumping out although the train had not completely stopped. I thought they must be of those tarzan kind. And told myself that I am one of the more civilised commuters. Then, as the train completely stopped I got out of the train and in seconds I was again in the train. And I knew I will have to something drastic in order to get at this station before the train leaves for the next destination. Suddenly somebody just pushed me out of the train because I was getting in his way to get into the train. Believe me it is this interesting (if you take the journey as an extreme adventure...).

Yes, it's TRUE the crowd decides where you get down, until you flow with the crowd or strategise about how you are going to get into and get out of the train. After some journeys you develop your own ways and start enjoying it. It is fun, to say the least....