Mumbai, one of the rich cities is also known dream city for many people. Many think going to Mumbai might change their life and surely it has given life to many.
One hand people from outside see Mumbai as ‘sapno ki duniya’ where as life of Mumbaikars is different. When talking about Mumbai, one thing comes to my mind is the City of Dreams and another thing is Mumbai locals. Yes, Mumbai locals the lifeline of Mumbaikars, which carries lakhs of people daily. Almost those who have lived in Mumbai have at least once travelled in this local.
Mumbai’s local train network today is a part of history. It is a part of what was the first railway network to be built, not just in India, but the whole of Asia.
The infrastructure was built by the British and the first train on the continent ran between Thane and Bori Bunder stations, the latter that was rebuilt as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, which still stands proud to this day. The momentous first train journey took place on April 16 in 1853, along a 34 km route.
The rail network is a little more complicated than that with various meandering routes, the City’s ever-expanding suburbs, and different railway corridors. The total length of rail lines that form the local network adds up to over 400 kms.
Mumbai locals are rightly called the lifeline of the City, with almost all the City’s inhabitants relying on them to get to work or other destinations at some point of time. Mumbai’s local rail network is the busiest commuter train system in the world with millions of people using the trains to commute daily, it is no surprise that overcrowding, here, reaches epic proportions.
Despite the colossal scale of operations, Mumbai’s railways manage to ensure excellent connectivity, with local trains plying between all the major and minor stations at regular intervals. There is never an interval of more than 4-5 minutes between train arrivals and departures, ensuring minimal waiting time.
While travelling in the general compartments or ladies’ compartments of Mumbai’s locals there’s an unwritten rule when it comes to seating. Despite the design of seats for 3 people it is normal for everyone to squeeze tight to accommodate a fourth person. To not do so, will be considered rude and on rare occasions can lead to arguments. The fourth seat is uncomfortable, as you’re practically falling off, but it beats having to stand for an hour or more.
Mumbai has borne the brunt of several disasters and terrorist attacks, including bomb blasts. The network also came under attack when terrorists opened fire at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, killing 60 commuters in 2008. Despite the brutality and enormous damage caused by all of the attacks, train services have always resumed swiftly, helping restore normalcy during troubled times. It took just three hours for service to be restored after the deadly train bombings of 2006.
Mumbai’s local trains are accessible to all, preserving the welcoming ethos of the City. Although housing and many other services in India’s biggest metropolis may now be unaffordable to many, traveling is still fairly easy thanks to the low pricing of tickets.
Mumbai’s local trains give a whole new meaning to the concept of overcrowding. Trains are literally overflowing during peak hours, with commuters spilling out of the doors, and windows