A fast train that slowed down

Getting up on a Monday morning is such a drag. No amount of decibels is good enough to get me off the bed. And once I am awake, I know I am bloody late for work. Another stupid late mark!
 

I stay at Koparkhairane and my office is at Colaba. For those who think Koparkhairane is on one corner of the earth, it is partly true. It takes around 15 minutes by rickshaw (11 minutes by local train) to Vashi, 50 minutes to CST (from Vashi), 10 minutes to Colaba (by bus). Do the math to know the total time I need to travel all the way to work.

So this Monday morning I thought “Hey I’ll take a fast train from Kurla.”

I mentally calculated 15 minutes to reach CST (will reach office on time, boy am I smart!). Bearing the brunt of the force from Mankhurd and Govandi (I travel second class till Kurla), I got down at Kurla station. Walking swiftly, I reached platform number 6 (I suppose) to catch a fast CST bound local. It arrived in seconds... I boarded. Everything was on schedule till Byculla. While I was constantly looking at the watch and thinking to hell with another late mark, the train stopped. Snail-paced it went ahead. Bloody it took 10 minutes to reach CST, and to add salt to the wounds, the Harbour train that I had 'smartly' left passed by the station and reached before CST my train.

The conclusion: Wake up early or you'll get late for work, no matter how hard you try to reach on time.

-Contributed by Mrinal

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12-coach local trains in Navi Mumbai?

For the past few months, work is in full swing on platforms of Navi Mumbai stations. It gives a great delight to see one end of the platforms being extended.

In fact, whenever I happen to be at Vashi, Seawoods or Koparkhairane stations, I see the workers sweating it out in sweltering heat! Looks like the authorities are leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that Navi Mumbai platforms can accommodate 12-coach trains. When would the 12-coach services start in Navi Mumbai is not known to me, but with the steady work, I'm hoping it won't take very long.

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Panvel-Thane train is a bliss! But know the tips

Every time I had to travel by train from Seawoods to Koparkhairane, I had to go for any of the following routes:
1 - Take a CST train from Seawoods, get off at Sanpada and then take a train to Thane (that has a very poor frequency).
2 - Take a CST train from Seawoods, get off at Nerul and then take a train to Thane (the Nerul-Thane route).

But this once, I really timed my journey and I was more than pleased. I took the direct Panvel-Thane slow train and had to change no train to reach Koparkhairane. It just took 20 minutes to cover the distance! The train was not crowded at all and I could board a general compartment. Why general compartment? Well, coz the ladies compartment did not arrive where it ideally does. And there's a reason for that - Read Tip number 2.

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Thane to Vashi trains running late

Am waiting at Koparkhairane station for quite some time now but no train has arrived from Thane yet. Don't know the reason yet.

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Thane Vashi trains getting crowded by the day

When I started travelling from Koparkhairane to Vashi in the morning peak hours, it used to be great. More often than not, I'd get a place to sit and travel super-comfortably. But gradually, commuters in Thane-Vashi line are increasing and it's close to packed in some trains during the morning peak hours. I am talking about the tiny ladies first class compartment, don't know much about the rest. In any case, I really think they should increase the frequency of trains in this line. Also, we need trains after 11:10 pm too. Can't believe the last train from Vashi to Thane leaves at 11:10!

Latest update:
New timetable has been introduced from February 2012: Thane Vashi Local Train Time Table 2012

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Indicators working at Koparkhairane station

Last week I was surprised when I reached Navi Mumbai’s Koparkhairane station to board my regular train to Vashi. The indicators were operational and announcements were being made!

Until now, there used to be quite some confusion at the Koparkhairane platforms! Firstly, the frequency of trains is bad, so if you miss one train and you aren’t carrying a timetable, you have no idea how long you’d have to wait.

Secondly, since trains for Vashi as well as Nerul / Panvel arrive at the same platform, every time you board a train at the last minute, you need to ask the fellow commuters about the train’s destination. Not anymore, and it’s such a relief! Add to it that the railway announcements are very clear too!

Now, let’s hope for more trains in this route.

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