TRAIN, Mumbai

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The Mumbai Suburban Railway carries more than 7 million commuters on a daily basis It has one of the highest passenger densities of any urban railway system in the world. The pictures are from Chowpatty train station.

GPS coordinates:
72° 48' 41.4800" E 72° 48' 56.6900" E

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Now I have to admit I could not have used this mode of transport all the time because it was just too hot for some of the mucking about (especially with children) it required. However, the trains are 1) cheap 2) fast 3) reliable & 4) quite good fun!

2 adults and 2 children travelled for about the same price as a box of matches!

Buy your ticket - you should indicate you want a first class carriage as they ae slightly less crowded!

Women can travel with relative ease as there are uncrowded "women only" carriages.

You may not get onto the first train that comes into the platform because you may be struck dumb with the wonder of how you could ever possibly board - there are people clinging to the outside for dear life... it is every man and flip flop for himself! BUT once you are on it is relatively friendly and easy.

Indian flights are very cheap and it's tempting. But if you have the time and the patience, Indian trains reward like no other journey.
The Indian train is a travelling village in itself. You will be sold to constantly. Some things you will want - chai in the moring, samosa in the evening - and some things you will not.
Despite the bad image of India as a hard-sell place, there's no obligation to buy and the seller will move on if you are not interested. The good bit is, you can do all your shopping in one journey, from bajee to clothing.
The trains are more than a kilometre long (which is truely awesome in itself), and are a lifeline to many Indians. And far more eco-friendly than flying.

Mumbai and its suburban trains are famous for being very overcrowded. Locals hang from the doors and ride on top of the trains. Only for a few hours during midday are the trains less crowded. Be prepared to exit the train before your stop because crowds entering will be pushing you back as you try to exit. Be extremely cautious if you have to travel late at night – you may even consider an alternate mode of transportation.

If you are a woman, get a ticket for the woman’s (only) compartment or at the very least a first class ticket. DO NOT even think of going in a general/men’s compartment. It is so crowded that you most likely will be groped, touched, rubbed against, or molested.

The trains are cheap, on time, and still the fastest way to get into town from the suburbs or vice versa. Just be smart and safe!

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Because i Work & Leave in Mumbai From 20 Years i know Very Well here ,Mumbai Local Trains Always Full 365 Days .But Never catch this trains in Morning 8.00 Am To 01.00 Pm .& Evening 5.00 Pm to 10.00 Pm From Any Station You Will Get Full Comparments Whether is First Class Or Second Class .

Travel any where and as many times with tourist ticket., on Mumbai suburban rail network, western and central railway.

FARE TABLE
FIRST CLASS SECOND CLASS
Validity Adult child Validity Adult child
1 day Rs.170 Rs.100 1day Rs.50 Rs 35
3 days Rs.330 Rs.180 3days Rs.90 Rs.55
5 days Rs.390 Rs.210 5days Rs.105 Rs.60

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One of the best experiences I have gathered in Mumbai is to take the local suburban train. Not only is it quick, cheap and efficient, but also gives you tons of opportunities to take photo's and get close to the locals.
The Mumai railnetwork is one of the most reliable in the world and the system carries more than 6.6 million commuters on a daily basis and constitutes more than half of the total daily passenger capacity of the Indian Railways itself. It has one of the highest passenger densities of any urban railway system in the world.

Booking trains in India is a bit of a challenge. Although I have travelled from Mumbai to Panjim, it was done in stages and we started off on the bus. We found the India Mike forum really useful. So I have provided the link below

http://www.indiamike.com/india/indian-railways-f10/

http://www.goneindia.com/Indiamike_train_guide_for_website__.pdf

http://www.irctc.co.in/

The last link is actually book the train. Booking a train ticket requires patience. It took us 3 hours to register (we were in India at the time and the internet connection is slow). Foreign cards can be used and I am trying to remember which card option you select to allow you to do this. If you need any further help I will ask my boyfriend later as he did most of the bookings.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.