Parel to get another platform!

Pinch yourself, it's true! Parel might finally get a new platform and end the woes of many commuters who are 'forced' to cross railway tracks at Parel station. How I have struggled in the jam-packed FOB! But this platform will be connected to the foot over-bridge and de-congest the existing bridge.

Read the entire report by Rajendra Aklekar, DNA, here.

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Mega block timings for Sunday, October 30

Kalyan to Thane: Fast trains leaving Kalyan between 10.40 am and 3.43 pm will be diverted on slow line upto Thane station and will halt at all stations between Kalyan and Thane during the block period.

Harbour line trains leaving Vashi between 10.21 am and 4.16 pm will be suspended between Vashi and Kurla stations.


Harbour line trains leaving Kurla between 10.38 am to 4.08 pm will be suspended between Kurla and Vashi stations.


Special local trains will run on CST-Kurla and Vashi-Panvel sections during the block period. Harbour line passengers are permitted to travel Via Thane-Vashi/Nerul on their valid ticket.

Thanking Mr. Rajendra Aklekar for sharing the information!

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Central / Harbour Line Mega Block Timings 23rd October

Mumbai local train commuters will face a mega block on Harbour, Central as well as Western Lines on Sunday, October 23, 2011.

The Western line mega block timings can be found here.

Kalyan to Thane fast track line will have a mega block between 10.40 am and 3.43 pm. The fast trains will be diverted on slow line upto Thane station from 10.35 am and 3.37 pm and will halt at all stations between Kalyan and Thane during the block period.


Local trains will not run from Mumbai CST to Kurla from 11 am to 4 pm.
Harbour line trains will not run from CST to Bandra / Andheri from 10.47 am to 4.03 pm.

Harbour line trains will not run from Bandra / Andheri to CST from 10.41 am to 3.48 pm.
Down harbour line services for Panvel/Belapur/Vashi stations leaving CST from 10.39 am to 3.53 pm will take the main line route but will not stop at Currey Road and Chinchpokli stations.


Harbour line passengers for Bandra / Andheri can travel via Main Central line and Western Railway from 10 am to 6 pm on 23.10.2011 on their valid ticket.

Info courtesy: Central Railway, Provided to us by Rajendra Aklekar.

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Borivali and Bhayandar Mega Block 22/23 October, 2011

This weekend, there will be a mega block on the western line between Borivali and Bhayandar stations on the night of 22/23 October, 2011. Reason for the block - maintenance work of track, signalling & overhead equipments.

Fortunately, the mega block will not affect most of the Mumbai local train commuters as it would be carried out for just four hours late in the night. Here are the mega block timings:


From Bhayandar to Borivali: 11 pm (22 October) to 3 am (23 October) on the fast line

From Borivali to Bhayandar: 12.45 am (23 October) to 4.45 am (23 October) on the fast line

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Agar rickshawalle motormen bann gaye toh...

Meaning: If auto rickshaw drivers became motormen of Mumbai local trains.

Meri Marzi!!!

• You want to go to Goregaon from Churchgate. But they will refuse to go citing it's a short distance. They have higher (or rather longer) aims... at least Nallasopara. 

• You punch a valid Rs 10 coupon for your destination. But they refuse to let you board the train. They say, "At least pay half return fare since no one boards the train for the reverse direction."

• It's raining cats and dogs and tigers. You try to reach your destination Kharghar asap. 17 trains pass Kurla station, none halts. Why? Well, they just don't feel like ferrying you. For them, it's the best opportunity and way to harass the bechaara public.

•  832 people are standing to board a train from platform number 1 of Wadala station. But only one is allowed to board the train. Why? Sharing nahi chalega!!!

• You board a train from Churchgate to Bandra. These are the stations you see -  Charni Road, Grant Road, Sandhurst Road, Dockyard Road, Raey Road, Currey Road, Wadala Road, Elphinston Road and Matunga Road. Why? Road pe ghuma raha hai... ab extra fare bharo!!!

Disclaimer: Not all Mumbai rickshaw drivers are rude / inconsiderate / mean. But quite a few are.
At 10 pm tonight, I had to stand by the road during heavy rains, without any umbrella / wind cheater / shelter, when no rickshaw driver agreed to ferry me to my house 15 mins away. One even asked for a fixed higher illogical fare. I stood there helpless, furious and desperate while as always the auto rickshaw drivers ruled the roads. Not that this happened for the first time, but I had to write... eventually.

Thank God for the train services. Hope no such rickshawallah ever becomes a motorman.

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Mega block timings on Sunday, October 16, 2011

Central Railway will operate a mega block today on Sunday, October 16, 2011. Here are the mega block timings you must be aware of if you are planning to travel by local trains in Mumbai today:

Harbour line trains from Panvel / Belapur / Vashi to CST will run on Central Main Fast Line from Kurla station to CST from 10.40 am to 3.54 pm. The trains will not halt at Currey Road and Chinchpokli stations.

Harbour line train services will remain suspended as follows:
Mega block from CST to Bandra / Andheri: 10.47 am to 4.03 pm
Mega block from Bandra / Andheri to CST: 10.41 am to 3.48 pm

Harbour line commuters for Bandra / Andheri can travel via main line / western line from 10 am to 6 pm during the mega block.

Slow / semi fast trains leaving Kalyan station between 10.13 am and 3.48 pm will run as fast trains on the fast track.
Info courtesy: Central Railway Notice

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Mega block on Western, Central, Harbour Lines

Mumbai local train commuters will face a mega block on Harbour, Central as well as Western lines on Sunday, October 9, 2011.

HARBOUR AND TRANS-HARBOUR

Vashi and Belapur: No trains will run from Vashi up to Belapur/Panvel between 10.41 and 4.06 pm. No trains will run from Belapur up to Vashi between 10.48 am and 4.01 pm.

Thane and Panvel: No trains will run from Panvel from 11.03 am to 3.25 pm up to Nerul. No trains leaving Thane will run between Nerul and Panvel from 10.03 am to 2.21 pm.

Andheri and Panvel: Trains will not run between Andheri and Panvel during the mega block period.

Special trains: Special trains will be arranged between CST and Vashi, Belapur and Panvel, and Thane and Nerul during the mega block period.

CENTRAL LINE

Kalyan and Thane: Fast trains leaving Kalyan from 10.40 am to 3.43 pm will run on slow track until Thane and will halt at all stations in between.

WESTERN LINE

Mahim and Marine Lines: Slow trains towards Churchgate station will run on fast line from 10.35 am to 3.35 pm. They will not stop at Matunga Road, Elphinstone, Lower Parel and Mahalaxmi stations. 12-coach slow trains will halt twice at Mahim.

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No Foot to Keep on Footboard

Travelling on footboard of local trains - Avoid if you can

On September 24, 2011, a man lost his arm as he met with an accident while trying to board a running train at Mumbai's Ambernath station .

Yesterday (October 2, 2011), two friends fell off a running local train. While Lala sustained some injuries, Kadar Shaikh lost his leg!

The incident happened between Kurla and Tilak Nagar stations. Apparently, they were standing on the footboard as the train was crowded and Kadar lost his balance.

Yet again we insist:

• Please do not travel on footboard. Getting late to reach your destination is better than losing limbs / life.
• Please do not try to board / alight from a running train.
• Please let commuters alight first.
• Please do not travel on train's rooftop.
• Please HELP victims of such accidents.

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