The ‘Lifeline of Mumbai’ is the local train. Every Mumbaikar relies on it for transportation. It was during the pandemic that Mumbai’s lifeblood was cut off and everything came to a standstill. However, now that covid-19 restrictions on local train travel have been eased, everything feels back on track. So we thought of giving you some tips to help you survive the rush of local train journeys during peak hours.
1. Be Aware Of Peak hours
The peak hours of local are almost the same for all the three- Western, Central and Harbour.
Morning: 07am to 10am
Evening: 05pm to 8:30pm
These are on working days. (Monday to Saturday)
2. Save time
During peak hours, both the ticket counter and the train are crowded. So opt for options like the UTS app or smart cards to avail a ticket to travel. It is very fast and convenient. It helps you to skip long queues at the ticket counter.
3. Use M-indicator
Download this application and you will see how easier life seems. This application will help you with train timings, routes and time taken to reach the destination. Generally, during peak hours people are in a hurry to board the train and might not help your confusion. So this app solves your confusion with just a few taps.
4. Be careful
While during peak hours you don’t worry much about alighting at a station because the crowd takes care of that. But while boarding the train, make sure you place your foot properly on the gate to avoid slipping into the gap between the train and the platform. There have been many such instances and hence one should take care. Also, avoid standing on the gate as the pressure is too much.
5. Pack Your Belongings
Make sure you hand your backpack near to your chest and not back. This is one of the unsaid rules of boarding a local train. Women with long hair should tie them up is another unsaid rule. During peak hours there is a huge rush and so it is better to be safe than sorry. Watch, long earrings or mobile phones are better kept inside the bag or in your jean pockets to avoid losing them.
Travelling in local trains in Mumbai would start feeling like a cakewalk once you get the hang of it.