Mega block timings - 26th February 2012

Like most Sundays, Central Railway will operate a mega block on 26th February as well. Here are the mega block timings:

Slow trains leaving Mulund from 10.35 am to 3.37 pm will be diverted on down fast line up to Kalyan station. These trains will not halt at Kalva, Mumbra, Diva, Kopar and Thakurli stations.

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.

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One more dies crossing tracks!

Reports of people dying while crossing tracks are increasing these days. These are read by all those who read newspapers, yet, people continue to cross tracks.

On Monday, a 4-year-old girl was hit by a train (more info) since her family had to cross tracks due to unavailability of a FOB in Mumbra*. Yesterday (22nd February 2012), a 27-year-old man died while crossing tracks near Govandi station. While people and newspapers are complaining (rightfully) about unavailability of helpers, they still continue to cross tracks. Most of them are an educated lot!

Youngsters, especially college students are often spotted avoiding the FOB to reach 'faster'. They realise that it's dangerous, yet they think, "I will be able to reach the other side before any train comes, I am smart enough!" Seldom they realise that the 'other side' might not have a way back.

I offer my condolences to the family of the victim and I understand that if there was no delay in availability of helpers, the man might have been saved.

But seriously, I urge you all not to cross railway tracks. Instead of saving that one minute by avoiding FOB / subway, you can save time by leaving home a minute earlier, spending a minute less in watching the television or waking up on time without putting your alarm on snooze!

Please spread the message and encourage people against crossing tracks.

*Mumbra residents have been demanding a foot over-bridge for a long time.

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Real surveys in local trains

A group of young girls took a wadala local to Panvel at around 5.30 pm. Carrying just a small wallet and a couple of A4 papers, these girls occupied different areas near the doors. They were actually noting down the number of people boarding and alighting from the train at each station. Curious enough, I asked them if it was a college project. They said it was a project assigned by the Railways. On asking if it was to analyze the crowding and subsequent requirement of additional trains at certain routes at certain times, they looked confused. They seemed to be clueless about why they were doing the exercise. Of whatever they must have heard about crowded trains in Kurla, there current worry was what happens at Kurla and If they would be able to continue the task!

Well, I am glad that railways is doing its bit towards crowd management and hopefully it might come up with a better timetable / train frequency.

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Vashi Thane Local Train Time Table 2012

Here's the latest Vashi-Thane time table (trans-harbour railway line) effective from February 2012.

There are some changes in the schedule of trains in this time table as compared to the old one. I don't think they have done anything good with the timings. Look at the pathetic schedule after 8 pm!

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Thane Vashi Local Train Time Table 2012

Here's the latest Thane-Vashi time table (trans-harbour railway line) effective from February 2012.

There are some changes in the schedule of trains in this time table as compared to the old one. Two new trains are introduced early in the morning. It must be noted that while the first Thane-Vashi train used to leave at 6.10 am earlier, now the first train leaves at 5.30 am!

However, the last three trains earlier left from Thane at 10.55, 11.10 and 11.45 pm. But now, after 10.39 pm there's just one train directly at 11.45 pm. I am hoping this was just an error on the part of railways when this time table was created. If not, it's a great inconvenience to the commuters of the trans-harbour line!

In case you travel late night, do share in the comments section here if there are in fact trains between 10.39 and 11.45 pm from Thane to Vashi station.

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Cornered by Cockroaches in Vashi-Thane Train

I happily occupied a window seat of a Vashi Thane local when a lady
noticed a cockroach near me. I was alarmed and could not thank her
enough for saving my life! All right, a cockroach-commuter might not
be an actual killer but imagine the following situations:

1 - Getting a heart attack at the sudden 'attack' by a cockroach
2 - What if it enters your purse and then emerges when you are
standing near the footboard of a moving train
3 - It gets into your dabba and converts your vegetarian lunch into a
non-veg meal
4 - You doze off in the train with an open mouth... and... Ewwww
Well, all this might sound like too much, but isn't having cockroach
commuters in human compartments too much! I wonder if I can dial the
helpline for reporting these unreserved travellers.

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Sunday mega block timings - 19th February 2012

CENTRAL LINE

Kalyan - Mulund: Up slow/semi fast line services leaving Kalyan from 11 am to 4 pm will be diverted o­n Up fast line between Kalyan and Mulund stations.Slow trains will not halt at Thakurli, Kopar, Diva, Mumbra and Kalva stations during the block period. 

Passengers wanting to reach these stations during the block period are allowed to travel via Dombivli/Thane in down direction o­n their valid card/season tickets. 

HARBOUR LINE
Vashi - Belapur: Trains running between Vashi and Belapur stations (both directions) will remain cancelled from 10.55 am and 3.55 pm.

Panvel-Andheri: Train services will remain suspended during the block period from 10.55 am and 3.55 pm.

TRANS-HARBOUR LINE

Panvel-Nerul: Up and Down Trans-harbour line trains between Panvel and Nerul stations (both directions) will remain cancelled from 10.55 am and 3.55 pm.

However special locals will run o­n CST-Vashi, Belapur – Panvel and Thane-Nerul section.

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Mega Block and special train timings today - 5th February 2012

WESTERN LINE
There will be a mega block between Churchgate and Andheri today due to DC to AC conversion. Both fast as well as slow train services will be affected during the mega block from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm. Special trains will be run between Virar and Andheri stations during the block period.

 

Special Services during the western line block period:

• Local train will leave at 10 am from Mumbai Central, will reach Andheri at 10.55 am. The train will not halt at Mahalaxmi station.
• Local train will leave at 11 am from Mumbai Central, will reach Borivali at 12.15 pm. In between, this train will stop only at Dadar, Mahim, Bandra, Khar, Santa Cruz, Vile Parle and Andheri stations.
• Local train will leave at 12.15 pm from Churchgate, will reach Andheri at 1.15 pm
• Local train will leave at 2.35 pm from Churchgate, will reach Andheri at 3.35 pm

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• Local train will leave at 11.05 am from Andheri, will reach Churchgate at 12.05 pm
• Local train will leave at 1.25 pm from Andheri, will reach Churchgate at 2.25 pm
• Local train will leave at 3.45 pm from Andheri, will reach Dadar at 4.18 pm. This train will not halt at Matunga Road.
• Local train will leave at 12.50 pm from Borivali, will reach Mumbai Central at 2.05 pm. this train will not halt at Andheri, Vile Parle, Santa Cruz, Khar, Bandra, Mahim and Dadar stations.

HARBOUR LINE
Andheri / Bandra - CST trains will be suspended from 9 am to 4.03 pm
CST - Bandra / Andheri trains will be suspended from 9.52 am to 4.41 pm

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