Cracking the Super Crush Dense Load

Every city is different in its own way. Every city has a lifeline. It can be anything. It can be an important river, a dam, a road that connects different parts of the city, a busy marketplace that brings in people from across the city and so on. Whatever it is, it remains at the heart of the city and plays vital role to everyday lifestyle of the locals. For Mumbai, it is the suburban railway that connects this mega-city together. It functions like the central nervous system allowing people to get from Point A to Point B across the city. Even those who do not depend entirely on the railway system know its importance because when this system comes to a halt, it’s not just the trains, but the entire city that comes to a standstill.

On a positive note, Mumbai is a very helpful city. Yes, we are busy and frustrated and in a rush, but we offer help. When 2006 Mumbai train bombings happened, many nearby residents and commuters came to rescue the injured ones even before the police, fire department and ambulances reached the scene. It was a tragic event, but it only strengthened the city into one big family. There is a sense of unity that you can feel here and that is what makes this city quite different from the rest of the mega-cities across the country. One of the main concerns that international travelers and even Indians from other parts of the country face is commuting in a local train.

Mumbai Suburban Railway is the oldest railway system in Asia started by British on 16 April, 1853. Today, the suburban railway is handled by Indian Railways and is divided into two zones; Western Railway and Central Railway. The Central Railway operates the Central Line and the Harbor Line, while the Western Railway operates the Western Line. Currently, the system offers 2,300 plus train services daily and around 70 million commuters depend on it on a daily basis. The annual commuter count exceeds 2.6 billion making it one of the busiest transit system in the world. I travel on the Western Line of the system which is quite infamous for overcrowding.

Local trains have their own unspoken laws. While taxis and rickshaws are good for small distances I would not recommend it for long distances. Why? Local trains can take you across the city faster than a Hayabusa and in fraction of a price. For instance, a cab ride from Churchgate (Downtown South Mumbai) to Borivali (Northern suburban area) will cost you around Rs. 1000/- (US$ 17) whereas a local train ticket for the same distance will cost you Rs. 15/- (25 US cents) per person. Surprisingly, a taxi ride will take around 90 minutes and more (considering there is no traffic jam) while in a local train you will cover the same distance in an hour. I believe that certainly indicates why millions of locals prefer suburban trains over any other mode of transport.

However, that also brings the bad part. Super Crush Dense Load. Wondering what it is? This term is not coined by me, but by the Mumbai Suburban Railway Department. In simple words, it means 16 passengers standing per square meter of floor space. To make it simpler, imagine a train that has been designed to carry 1,700 passengers, but instead it carries 4,500 plus. For local commuters this is just a daily routine, but for outsiders this can be their worst nightmare. I have seen many outsiders being pushed around by the crowd simply because they don’t know these rules that are not mentioned anywhere. Not even in any Mumbai travel guide.

So, how do you deal with it? Well, there are two simple rules that you need to keep in mind; Stay Informed and Be Quick. Below I am going to decode how you can travel safely while you are in Mumbai local train. It’s funny, scary and quite a different ride that you might never experience elsewhere.

Know Where You Want to Go

Mumbai is a giant concrete maze filled with tiny streets and by-lanes, so you better know where you are going. Don’t walk out with generic information like – a white color building, a big temple, a shopping mall. Very generic. Always keep the exact address of where you are going, so that locals can help you. Like I mentioned earlier, we are busy and frustrated, we don’t have the time to listen to those generic landmarks or pointers that don’t make sense. A better way is to keep a mobile number handy, so you can ask for help when you need it. You should also know which train line you need to pick to reach your destination.

Nearest Station to Your Destination

Know about the nearest station to your destination, so you know when and where to board/alight. These days all local trains announce the name of the next approaching station so you don’t have to peep out of the crowded train to know what’s next. However, always keep in mind that it’s can be a jam packed journey and if you don’t move fast there is very little space for you to step out. For instance, if you want to travel from A to E, you should be ready and standing near the door when the train moves on from D. If the train is not crowded, you can relax and get down when the train gets you to E.

10-Second Window - Be Prepared

Local trains usually stop for 7 to 10 seconds and at max 15 seconds. So, you practically have only 7.5 seconds to make your way out of the crowd and step on the platform or the vice versa. If you don’t make it, you will have to get down at the next approaching station. If there are too many people standing before you near the door it is always advisable to ask them if they will get down at the next stop so you can follow and alight. Similarly, you have the same amount of time to board the train so stay ready when the train arrives at the station.

Don’t Pick the Wrong Train

Being in the wrong train is something you should avoid. Local commuters know their trains very well and I believe that is why they subconsciously expect you to be on the right train. If you’re in the wrong train you might get stuck inside if more people begin to board the train. Since it is horribly congested inside the coach you just can’t tell the next person to excuse because there is no space for the other person to move. While boarding you can always ask someone around if the train will stop at the station you want to alight.

Slow and Fast Trains

You need to be sure if the train will halt at your station. There are slow and fast trains. Slow trains stop at all stations on the route. Fast trains cover only important stations and skips certain stops. Fortunately, there are apps available that you can download that guide you on whether you need to catch a slow train or a fast train to reach your destination.

What Time Is It?

Understand this. Millions across the city stay in northern suburbs (including me) and commute southwards to downtown area for work. So, usually during the morning peak hour time all south-bound trains are crowded as people commute from far northern suburbs to the city for work. During the evening time, it’s the opposite so all north-bound trains are crowded. If you want to avoid crowd, try travelling in the opposite direction of the crowd. The morning peak hour time is from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and in the evening it begins at 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 or 11:00 p.m.

Travel Light

When you are travelling in the city make sure you travel light. I've seen international visitors with loaded backpacks waiting for a less crowded train that they can board. There. Is. No. Such. Train. My friend. If you still have to travel with your luggage travel during afternoon period. When I am travelling with lot of baggage, I prefer to travel between 1:00 in the afternoon so I can complete my journey while most people are busy relishing their lunch in their office cafeteria or at their home. The 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm time is the time slot when local trains are comparatively less crowded.

I hope this piece of information will help many international tourists and even Indians from different part of the country to travel with ease while handling the Super Crush Dense Load which does sound like a scary ride. These days you can also download apps on your smartphone that help you to stay informed how to move around the city. So, use the right resources and I am sure you’ll fall in love with Mumbai forever.