Women's Day special in Mumbai local trains

Come Women's Day and I get nostalgic with a particular memory of Mumbai local trains. It was during our post graduation days. We ended up boarding a ladies special train on 8th March and were more than surprised. Why? Coz the entire train was elegantly decorated. Yes there were red / pink balloons adorning the entire train. And then there were these girls distributing sachets of Ponds blackhead removal strips. I think it might have been during the launch of the product.

Being in the train made us all feel very special. It was a beautiful sight to see all the female commuters exchanging smiles and feeling wonderful. I did not see anyone arguing that day over a seat or anything. Wow, great ambiance does work wonders!

Wondering if ladies special trains are still treated specially on these days. If you happen to board one today, do let us know. And yes, HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY!

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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.

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Ladies Special Train Time - Kurla Station

All right ladies, the special train to CST (central line) reaches Kurla station at 9:01 am

Now don't push me this easy-to-get-in train ;)

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Ladies special local train - time - Goregaon

If you wish to board a ladies special train to Churchgate from Goregaon station, you have two options.

One ladies special train reaches Goregaon station [platform number 2] at 8:24 am. If it's too early for you, you can catch a 9:31 ladies special. The two trains, I suppose, start from Virar and Borivli respectively [not sure though].

The 8:24 train is more crowded than the other one. You have an advantage if you wish to catch the 9:31 train as in case if you miss it, you can take the Goregaon local that starts from Goregaon at around the same time.

If you wish to board a ladies special train to Virar from Goregaon, you again have two options - 6:30 pm and 7:04 pm. Both the trains start from Churchgate.

Do let me know if you need further info on the same.

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