Mumbai Railway Discussions: Projects and Updates [Archive] - Page 7

fuwad

December 21st, 2010, 07:12 PM

Rs4.41-crore building at Andheri station opened

Published: Tuesday, Dec 21, 2010, 2:39 IST
By Rajendra Aklekar | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

Lakhs of rail commuters in Andheri have a reason to cheer. The Rs4.41 crore swanky Andheri station building was formally opened to the public on Monday.

“The new state-of-the-art station building has ground plus two floor structure and will ease commuters’ movement on the crowded east side. The aesthetics of the building and interiors are attractive and designed keeping in mind the requirements of the people,” WR chief spokesperson Sharat Chandrayan said.

The building has been merged with the MMRDA skywalk that is under construction and the footover bridges. The second floor is being constructed and will be completed within four months.

The building has 10 unreserved ticket counters, eight reservation ticket counters, public toilets and even two lifts and food plaza on the ground floor.

The under-construction sky walk from SN Road will be connected to the second floor and commuters can directly enter the second floor of the building.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_rs4-41-crore-building-at-andheri-station-opened_1484061

shanware

December 21st, 2010, 07:51 PM

rathibent

December 21st, 2010, 10:44 PM

the railway stations cant be world class/swank with a budget of 4.41 crores....WR and CR need to spend at least 5 crore on each station so that they are at least comfortable forget world class....

bhargavsura

December 22nd, 2010, 02:04 AM

Great updates man. Not bad at all.

gentem

December 22nd, 2010, 05:59 AM

Does this new andheri station got escalators to platform skywalk? otherwise people would prefer to cross tracks and die.

problem with at-grade railway is you have to climb up to skywalk and then climb down :(

p2p4

December 22nd, 2010, 06:56 AM

The pictures taken were from the Andheri East side or West (been ages since I have been to Andheri Stesan, so pls excuse my ignorance).

On the other hand, Is it me alone, or do you share my concern if every building in India that gets an aluminum cladding then it automatically becomes Swanky/World Class/State-of-the-Art?

These journos need to be exposed to SSCI standards of expectations :P Let's pull em up for some serious lessons on what is World Class and what is not.

If every station in Mumbai is going to be glad with grey and blue aluminum claddings, mediocrity will indeed become a standard class.

p2p4

December 22nd, 2010, 07:11 AM

Also, am I the lone ranger out here to see that the choice of granite used for the foot falling flooring is way too slippery for humid / rainy conditions?

They could have used textured stone for a better grip ... or .. is it an intentional error where some contractor will get to pocket another contract for replacing the flooring.. ? (Story may go on...and on.. and on..)

I single myself out to be the lone rebel here - opposing aluminum and glass cladding. Can we have our inhouse statistician do a report on :-

1) How much detergent & Water is required per square meter to first rinse and then scrub the claddings.
2) How much water per square meter is required to rinse the claddings after scrubbing them?
3) How many rubber T streakers will need to be replaced for a dust-clad cladding?
4) In a dusty and polluted environment like Mumbai's maintaining glass and aluminum clads require a daily scrub and if you want them to look sparkling good, you got to get them scrubbed at least twice a week at the least.

Water shortage anyone?
Maintenance cost, anyone?

A lowrise station like this - I feel very strongly - DID NOT require the claddings.

fuwad

December 22nd, 2010, 08:32 AM

^^
You are not alone......I second that.

KuwarOnline

December 22nd, 2010, 10:08 AM

p2p4

December 22nd, 2010, 11:10 AM

I, may be ignorant on this but when we had/have century old building we were crying to get something new, but when we are getting new.... still we complain for same, yes there are lots room for improvement.... nobody is perfect. no offence to any one... (specially p2p2 n fuwad) :)

No offence taken my friend Kuware-laal Chaman :D We all are here to see improvements in India :) But I do feel that the wholesale cladding of stations is not the way to go. We are still talking of a Mumbai where there are power outages and enclosed structures like these will certainly eat up the power required for airconditioning? I may be wrong .. I may be right.

Do correct me :)

Cheers
p2p4

KuwarOnline

December 22nd, 2010, 01:05 PM

^^Mumbai is only city in India which does not have load shedding(I dont know about this year, I m out of city)... rest of Maha yes....its has power issue... I dont find issues like Power, water etc in Mumbai... its very rare though... In summer days,,, water was at least come a day if not twice or thrice...

dreadathecontrols

December 22nd, 2010, 08:04 PM

looks pretty good.

Bombay2Calcutta

December 22nd, 2010, 09:23 PM

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HM/2010/11/12/Article//011/12_11_2010_011_001.jpg

Bombay2Calcutta

December 22nd, 2010, 09:41 PM

Source (http://www.dnaindia.com/speakup/report_mumbai-first-class-commuters-demand-better-coaches_1484885)

Published: Wednesday, Dec 22, 2010, 22:03 IST
By Rajendra Aklekar | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

As the railways in Mumbai opened bids from international companies to manufacture and buy new trains under the second phase of the city’s railway upgrade project, first-class commuters in the city have written to the railway planning body demanding more comfortable coaches and aesthetic coach interiors.

Many people complain about the plain looks of the first class and believe that the commuters who pay more deserve better service. “First-class passengers pay nearly 100% more money, but do not get enough in return. Agreed that crowding is an issue, but the least railways can do is to improve the aesthetics of the interiors. They can think of various measures that can distinctly differentiate the first and second class,” says Nilesh Gupta, who has been travelling in the first class for over three years.

Others have problems with second-class commuters unknowingly jumping on to the premier class, adding to crowding in the compartment.

“In the new trains, there is no difference in the interior of first class and second class compartment, except the seats. Hence, from outside it is difficult to make out between the two and because of this passengers, especially those from outside the city, wrongly enter the first-class compartment. They add to the crowd and end up paying fines too,” a member of Mumbai Vikas Samiti said.

“The older trains clearly demarcated the two classes by using different paint shade etc. We have requested them to keep this in mind while designing new trains,” he added.

Jagdeep Desai, an architect, points to the lack of maintenance of the existing trains. “The railways are just spending money on the electro mechanical ventilation device which lends itself to possible failure and subsequent maintenance, or lack of it, and to try and solve problems when the solutions create more problems,” says Desai.

He also thinks the grills on the coaches could be a major safety hazard. “Another inappropriate design is the introduction of grills. The windows should be made to open up to down, not down to up. This would obviate the need to put suffocating grills on the windows and bars, ostensibly for protecting the passengers. This would be the passengers greatest enemy when they need to make an emergency exit,” he added.

The railways have already said that the new trains expected under the second phase of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project will be gleaming steel coaches, colourless from outside and multi-coloured from inside. Seventy-two 12-car trains are expected to arrive in Mumbai by 2015.

According to tentative plans, the interiors will be colourful and the seats in second class would be blue, while those in the first class would be red for better differentiation. The flooring and finishing of the new trains would be much better with modified air-cooler vent and better-placed fans.

The railways have asked various consultants, including the National Institute of Design from Ahmedabad, to suggest design and colour at a cost of Rs 10 lakh.

How to make it ‘first class’

Upgrade interiors:
First-class commuters ask for interiors that are aesthetically appealing. They want the coaches to look different from the second class ones

Window shift:
They want windows to open down and not upwards. They have also asked for the grills be moved so that the windows can be used for exit in case of an emergency

Colour separation:
They want two different colours between first and second class for better differentiation, so that one can tell the two apart while boarding

Better Ventilation:
They seek device that work and are placed correctly to end suffocation during peak hours. Commuters demand timely maintenance of machines, too

devendra1

December 22nd, 2010, 10:02 PM

Swanky _/
State-of-the-art _/

This article meet the minimum required specifications for an article about an infrastructure project in India. Congratulations !
:rofl:

koresh

December 23rd, 2010, 03:58 PM

Writing from Shanghai.

The swanky word is a big joke. It's good for people who don't know what is world class.

Having travelled on Shanghai Subway and CRH to Hangzhou (120kms in 1/2 hr) and Wuxi (125Kms) at 350 km/hr was thinking Indian cities are atleast 20 years behind. Even cities likes Hangzhou have getting a metro rail while Mumbai can't build a single line in 5 yrs, such is the difference. Wuxi has better infrastructure then Mumbai in some areas.

KuwarOnline

December 24th, 2010, 11:05 PM

Hope its not repost

cc busfan

http://i56.tinypic.com/2ms232t.jpg

MeMumbaikar

December 25th, 2010, 12:26 AM

See personally speaking I think Mumbai suburban railways function very well off peak.

ie outside rush hour. There is space to stand and your not squished and frequency is good.

Its just the rush hour which is a big problem. 7:30-9:30am and 4-6.pm

Thats been my experience the whole time when i travelled. I remember catching the train a while back for my practicals at 10am and being comfortable in standing. Ie having sufficient personal space

So they just need to get the rush hour right.

The picture posted by Kuwar is exactly the kind of conditions I encounter outside the rush hour.

My parents told me till the late 70s actually the mumbai suburban was a smooth and efficient ride. Its in the early 90s that the situation began to overflow quite badly.

Rising pop and no infra to keep tab on demand. Indian railways just did not add anything in the 80s when they should have....

KuwarOnline

December 25th, 2010, 02:51 AM

yes, its only rush hour problem....I like new rakes, its looks really clean compare to old one...

busfan

December 25th, 2010, 04:29 AM

Hope its not repost

cc unknown
http://i56.tinypic.com/2ms232t.jpg

It is my pic :) Original can be found here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/akshaywcam1/2240793121/). Also posted on forum here (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=28179426&postcount=1075).

OldKool

December 25th, 2010, 07:24 AM

fuwad

December 25th, 2010, 07:53 AM

Churchgate to get a touch of glass

Published: Saturday, Dec 25, 2010, 2:25 IST
By Rajendra Aklekar | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

A world-class heritage site on one side and a swank 21st century corporate glass-tinted building on another.

Churchgate, one of the city’s oldest and iconic stations in the city, is getting a corporate look. The towering station building will soon be converted into a hi-tech facade with tinted glasses and aluminum sheets. Work has already begun and will be completed in a year’s time.

“The four crore-project will make the station building appear on par with any multinational office. The seven storey-station building was built in 1957 in place of the existing old station and not much has changed since then,” a senior official said.

“Churchgate has a glorious history. The original station, a small structure with thatched roof, in the 1920s used to have a level crossing across the road and the lines went further ahead to Colaba. In the 1930s, Colaba was closed with the cutting down of railway lines.

Churchgate was then remodelled as a terminus in 1933 and the existing station building, the third one on the site, built in 1957,” he added.

“With the heritage building on one side, it will be a case of stark contrast. Moreover, use of glass has to be done very intelligently and carefully after studying various aspects in this case,” Vikas Dilawari, conservation architect and member of the MMRDA’s heritage committee, said.

“The station today sees more than 30 lakh commuters every day. We are not just trying to give it a new look to upgrade its appearance and aesthetics, but also improve the public utilities there,” chief spokesperson Sharat Chandrayan said.

The plan includes reflective tinted glass to cover the station building from all sides, false ceilings with illumination for the main concourse, levelling of platforms and new roofs that will be extended over the entire platform.

For improved ventilation, there are plans to place hi-powered blowers to keep circulating the air inside the station premise. “Work on the extended roof is almost complete and should be ready by New Year,” Chandrayan said.

Apart from this, the station will also be ready to take in 15-car suburban trains from next month. Work has started on extending the platforms to welcome the world’s longest suburban train into Churchgate.

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/3613/12252010112509am.jpg

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_churchgate-to-get-a-touch-of-glass_1485859

gentem

December 25th, 2010, 09:14 AM

Hope its not repost

cc unknown

http://i56.tinypic.com/2ms232t.jpg

they should reduce width of seats, and more place to stand and move around like in metro.. even volvo city buses have more standing place. when will indian railway learn?

kshatriya

December 25th, 2010, 09:15 AM

RE: fuwad's pics of the new Andheri station building. Thanks mate!

The work is shoddy and hardly awe inspiring, but the new building is still such a massive improvement. As usual, simply ignore all mention of world class and state-of-the-art. :cheers:

Coolguyz

December 25th, 2010, 09:50 AM

they should reduce width of seats, and more place to stand and move around like in metro.. even volvo city buses have more standing place. when will indian railway learn?

They did try that one seat per window type seating years back, same for BEST too but I guess it didnt work out for both of them.

And no the volvo city buses for mumbai dont have more standing place.the walking space is too narrow for 2 persons to pass through

gentem

December 25th, 2010, 10:00 AM

^^ more standing place near doors if not till end. go for 2+2 instead of current 3+3 or 2+3 seat per row. 2+2 in a broad gauge should give enough gap in middle to move around. but no point we discussing i dont think indian railway will ever change their coaches

anujkb

December 25th, 2010, 10:15 AM

Its high time we should have escalator on all major stations. I just visited Bangkok, singapore, kuala lumpur, and the following is my wishlist for station building improvements:

1. escalators on CSTM, BCT, DDR-DR, ADH, BVI, TNA, CLA, KYN for all platforms.
2. moving walkways @ BVI, BCT, CSTM, DDR-DR (both-lateral and sidewise)
3. food plazas and toilets at par with airport standards at the above stations

@ those complaining about ADH station building:
- glasses wont be claned daily
-cost of cleaning is very less compared to budget of tiling etc. water is 22 rs/10000 litres, soap is 50 rs/kg, and 3 kg is enough for once-in a month cleaning.
- it is not air-conditioned.
- it is not wastage of water
- maintenance cost is very less bcoz i doubt if itll be ever maintained.
- this tiling is also used in dadar reservation counter and it doesnt have much problems since last 4 yrs. point is people come with huge luggage and need to slide it... corugated tiling or the like is not required, unnecessarily increases cost, and the upper portion becomes blunt (or takla) on regular use, and it looks very ugly (see footpath outside dadar station W at suvidha showroom) so usual shahbadi or kota tiling rocks...
- but its high time they should connect extreme north end FOB (at ADH station) to the skywalk outside the bus depot.
- hope they maintain toilets here in a good condition. ADH station lacked a basic toilet facility.
- I wont still use this and will still cross the tracks because pf 6&7 of harbour line is the shortest route used by thousands daily, and rail has made a facility by making "steps" over the concrete wall.
-skywalk at agarkar chowk be extended to andheri court and further to teligalli.

MeMumbaikar

December 25th, 2010, 11:52 AM

you know when people say escalators.

Lets keep in mind that most people who die on the network are dumb fcuk idiots who keep crossing the more perilous lines in order to save a precious few minutes.

An escalator seems like another death trap to me with many people not even knowing how to use an escalator.

Its like when a local ngo installed a toilet with a commode in a poor area. Most did not know how to use it and the shit literally ended up everywhere. (so my friends tells me). Then they reverted back to a squat toilet and things were fine.

So lets keep the type of public in mind and have large and easy to walk on footbridges steps.

We have a lawless society with a "mere baap ka road he" mentality. You know there is going to be some kid who misuses it to the point of breaking. So for now build structure which can hold upto abuse.

For the metro build escalators and charge people extra for tickets. Let us have a division whereby the metro becomes the mode for the middle class mostly. While the suburban is for everybody. Simple based on ticket pricing.

gentem

December 25th, 2010, 12:33 PM

MeMumbaikar

December 25th, 2010, 01:33 PM

^^ metro every station has escalators. but local we shall have it in few big stations only so that cost wont be much. only one escalator per station is enough, upwards from platform 1 which is the staircase most used.

gentem. cost is not an issue IMO

I cant see escalators choking up as 3-4 people try to get onto a single step at the same time.

I dont think you appreciate the volume of people coming through

officially 6.9 mill people may use the network everyday. But in reality the figure is like 10 mill. Many just dont buy
tickets. Especially the poor.

the conductor does not even ask such people for tickets. They stick to asking well dressed (by their standards) people for tickets.

as a compromise they need to try it out at Dadar station for a year. If it works at Dadar without any major issues then it will work anywhere at the network.Dadar is the most prominent junction in the network with the most interchanges in terms of passenger journies..Then maybe they can roll is out to junctions at Kurla etc.

So maybe try it out at Dadar

then Kurla and Bandra

then maybe churchgate CST

then other major stops.

i think railways are thinking along the lines of an escalator.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_soon-you-can-use-escalators-at-dadar-andheri-thane_1459722

however i still maintain its a safety hazzard waiting to happen

anujkb

December 25th, 2010, 02:23 PM

At dadar station it will be perfect except on 5 december.... it should be closed at that time...

Abhishek901

December 25th, 2010, 03:39 PM

At dadar station it will be perfect except on 5 december.... it should be closed at that time...

Why 5th Dec is an exception?

Bombay Boy

December 25th, 2010, 03:45 PM

ambedkar jayanti. over a million people descend on shivaji park from all over the country on that day, leaving the entire area in a huge mess

Coolguyz

December 25th, 2010, 04:14 PM

ambedkar jayanti. over a million people descend on shivaji park from all over the country on that day, leaving the entire area in a huge mess

Even the local residents of the area go out for 2 days, 1 day for the festival and 2nd for BMC to clean the area out....and now the action shifts to Mahim for muharram and the mahim fair, BWSL on such days is a blessing

KuwarOnline

December 27th, 2010, 08:21 AM

It is my pic :) Original can be found here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/akshaywcam1/2240793121/). Also posted on forum here (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=28179426&postcount=1075).

updated ur name,.,,, u should have posted here....anyways thanks for pic... nice one ... :)

KuwarOnline

December 27th, 2010, 08:30 AM

include lucknow too

Good to know that,,, :)

p2p4

December 28th, 2010, 04:16 AM

ambedkar jayanti. over a million people descend on shivaji park from all over the country on that day, leaving the entire area in a huge mess

Huge Mess is an understatement !! I don't want to derail this thread but one, and only one thing that comes to mind (when you are in Mahim/ShivajiPark area during Ambedkar Jayanti is), what the fuck did emancipation of the lower caste has done anything to IMPROVE their hygiene & civic sense levels. Answer, ZILCH.

Even Ambedkar himself would be very, very disappointed with the lot that he championed for.

Bombay2Calcutta

December 29th, 2010, 06:39 PM

First and only ‘khada local’ turns to scrap

After passengers protested longitudinal seating in 1977, Railways replaced it with transverse seats; the journey of the experiment ended at Virar yard mid-December

When it comes to rail travel, we sure are creatures of habit. The proof of our resistance to experimentation lies at the Virar Scrap and Cutting Yard – in the small pieces of metal from the nation’s first and only local train with longitudinal seats that ran along its walls and windows. The train, commissioned in May 1977, was finally turned to scrap mid-December.

A WR study conducted soon after the rake was put into service in 1977 found that people did not fancy standing for such long distances. Those sitting complained of poor ventilation and also expressed their fear of getting crushed by the standees. What clinched the argument against these trains came from an overwhelming number of women who were scared chain-snatchers would flick their jewellery as they sat with their backs to the windows.

The nation’s first and only train with longitudinal seats that ran along walls and windows was turned to scrap at the Virar Scrap and Cutting Yard

Incidentally, 33 years on, Mumbaikars have still not taken to the concept of sideways seating. When the Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) recently invited commuter suggestions, these seats were a complete no-no for a majority of respondents.

So the scrapping process of this nine coach train – with five coaches with the revolutionary side seats – began on August this year. The train had been handed over for a scrap auction by WR and sold to a bidder in September. A team of gas cutter-wielding workmen cut the last bit of the train mid-December at the sprawling Virar Yard, officials who oversaw the process said.

The train was a result of research by the railway ministry, which in 1977 sensed the only way to tackle the crowds in Mumbai’s suburban system was to use seats that left 70 percent of the floor space free for people to stand on. The ministry’s calculations revealed they could comfortably accommodate 4,500 people in this train. The ministry officially christened the train ‘the high capacity rake’ but the common man’s name for it was ‘khada local’ or standing train.

A senior official associated with the project said the train was given four motor coaches. “Because of the extra load, the train would have required extra power. Because of certain technical restrictions, only five non-motor coaches were given longitudinal seats,” said the official.

However, a coachload of commuter complaints got the better of India’s first suburban train experiment. A top level meeting on November 7, 1978, attended by officials of the railway ministry, the Research Design And Standards Organisation (RDSO) and WR officials, took the call to end the experiment.

The ministry decided to remove all longitudinal seats and replace them with transverse ones in the two by two formation. It ran in this version for the past 33 years and was finally consigned to the scrap yard because of old age.

Incidentally, current MRVC managing director P C Sehgal was the assistant engineer who commissioned the experimental local train in 1977. Speaking to Mumbai Mirror, Sehgal, said, “It was a proactive move by the railways in 1977 but since the commuters did not like it, it had to be removed. The fact remains that if we have two seats instead of three in some of the coaches of local trains now, capacity can be increased by 30 percent in every train.”

The National Institute of Design which has helped the MRVC in the past with interior designs of trains had given the MRVC a sample of how a local train would look with longitudinal seats. However, according to WR and MRVC officials, the idea is one whose time has clearly passed.

Bombay Boy

December 29th, 2010, 06:46 PM

what the fuck did emancipation of the lower caste has done anything to IMPROVE their hygiene & civic sense levels. Answer, ZILCH

you could argue education hasnt helped most indians in that regard as well

kronik

December 29th, 2010, 06:54 PM

Even Ambedkar himself would be very, very disappointed with the lot that he championed for.

hey buddy, long time!

Totally agree with this point. What he would be most disappointed with is the quality of people who have usurped his name and are misusing it to divide this country farther.

But we drift! This'll remain this country so lets carry on with the railway discussion.

Bombay2Calcutta

December 29th, 2010, 09:28 PM

DNA (http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_new-airport-prompts-railways-to-convert-panvel-into-rail-hub_1487424)

New airport prompts railways to convert Panvel into rail hub

With the plans for the second international airport almost finalised, the railways have stepped up their efforts for local train connectivity to the township and chalked out comprehensive plans to convert Panvel into a rail hub, proposing new suburban railway corridors between Karjat and Panvel and between Panvel to Virar.

Giving latest details in the 2011 annual diary, the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation, the city’s railway think-tank, has listed 12 major projects that would be undertaken under the third phase of the Rs3000 crore MUTP.

With the new airport coming up at Panvel the railways want to ensure connectivity to the spot and will turn it into a hub. “We have plans to extend the local train corridors over the entire Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Panvel will be a sort of a hub for local trains that ply to CST or Churchgate. The corridors have been elaborately planned in the third phase of Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP),” Dr PC Sehgal, managing director of Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation told DNA.

Among the major projects listed are extension of local trains from Panvel to Karjat, building a new suburban line between Virar-Vasai-Diva and Panvel and building a fast-train corridor on harbour lines.

“The third phase is at a concept stage and will be modified to be taken further out of Mumbai. We need to take trains beyond Panvel and to smaller townships like Alibag and Roha to get the real benefit of local trains. We plan to include these further in consultations with the Maharashtra government,” Sehgal added.

Another senior official said, “The MUTP-I is about to get over and work on the second phase has already started and should get completed by 2015, after which the third phase shall set in. Once an airport comes up here, this place will need faster connectivity for the common man and extending the existing rail network would be much faster than building completely new modes of transit like the Metro etc.”

There is an existing network of rail lines in the region that ferries goods etc and upgrading them to suburban lines would not be a problem.

The Central Railway, on the other hand, is also finalising plans to convert Panvel into a terminus, for originating and terminating outstation trains to decongest Mumbai. The station is being converted into a major railway terminus at a cost of Rs27 crore.

Bombay2Calcutta

December 29th, 2010, 09:32 PM

Source (http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_central-railway-to-spend-rs27-crore-on-station-security-in-mumbai_1486611)

Central Railway to spend Rs27 crore on station security in Mumbai

Central Railway (CR) is gearing up for a war against terror. It has drawn up a Rs27.49-crore shopping list of the most hi-tech security equipment available in the market to protect commuters on Mumbai’s suburban railway system, which is prone to be targeted by terrorists.

The CR will also form three command centres at CST, Kurla and Kalyan to integrate the entire security monitoring mechanism. The system has been customised after selecting the best practices in rail security across the world.

“The railways in Mumbai have already been attacked. There was a blast in a train at Mulund in 2003, followed by the July 11, 2006, serial blasts on Western Railway and the 26/11 terror attack at CST. The railway ministry had drawn up comprehensive plans to prepare for and counter any eventuality and had sanctioned money in the budget. We have now called for proposals and the systems should be in place in 2011,” a senior railway official said.

The integrated security system will have five basic elements, including internet protocol-based video surveillance system, access control system, personal and baggage screening systems, bomb detection and disposal system, and system integration.

Six stations on Mumbai — CST, Dadar, Kurla, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Thane, and Kalyan — and two stations in Pune division — Pune and Miraj — have been selected.

“The project will also include training of railway staff in installation, maintenance and operation of equipments/system. The entire system will be supervised and maintained for three years of warranty and a comprehensive four years of annual maintenance contract,” he added.

The system will also involve extension of the existing station public address system to the CCTV control room for emergency. The entire system will be operated from the CCTV control room and will have provisions for monitoring from a remote location through the railway network

Bombay2Calcutta

December 29th, 2010, 09:45 PM

Source (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/DC-to-AC--Harbour-line-to-make-switch-for-better-connectivity/730391)

DC to AC: Harbour line to make switch for better connectivity

The Central Railway will convert the harbour line section from Direct Current to Alternate Current before it converts the main line.

The conversion from 1,500 kv DC to 25,000 AC will pave the way for more services on the harbour line. Of the three suburban rail lines, only the harbour line does not have a fast track corridor.

The CR has drawn a map to complete the project in seven phases to meet the 2012 deadline, said V A Malegaonkar, chief spokesperson. In the first phase, the Kalyan-Thane section will be converted excluding the Thane station. The second phase will cover the patch from Kurla to Thane, excluding Kurla. In the third phase, the trans-creek hrbour line, including the Thane-Turbhe section, will converted from DC to AC.

The conversion of harbour line did not figure in the original plan of Mumbai Urban Transport Project Phase I and II, however, with demand for commercial and residential space in Navi Mumbai growing fast the conversion was included in the project.

The fourth phase of the project will include the Tilak Nagar-Panvel stretch. The last phase will include the Kurla-CST section. This is a critical phase as the CR is yet to decide on demolition of bridges along the section.

“With the conversion of Borivali-Churchgate section by the Western Railway, the CR has to convert its section as well as harbour line trains go up to Andheri and under MUTP it would be extended up to Goregaon,” said a senior railway official.

devendra1

December 30th, 2010, 01:09 AM

Thane station to get new foot over-bridge

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_thane-station-to-get-new-foot-over-bridge_1487866

dreadathecontrols

December 30th, 2010, 08:02 PM

Bombay2Calcutta

December 30th, 2010, 09:06 PM

DNA (http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_prithviraj-chavan-takes-reins-of-mutp-to-hasten-pace_1486200)
Prithviraj Chavan takes reins of MUTP to hasten pace

Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who used to monitor Mumbai’s rail upgrade project in the prime minister’s office, will now be taking its review from ground zero.

For the first time after taking over as the chief minister, Chavan, who also holds the transport portfolio, on Friday took a review of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) and has asked for a detailed presentation on all the three phases of the project. Chavan met top officials of the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC), the city railway’s think tank.

“Mumbai is lucky to get Chavan as the chief minister as his presence in the PMO meant he had been following the projects in detail. On Friday, several key issues were discussed and the MRVC explained the various works in progress under all the three phases of the MUTP,” a top official said.

“Chavan was happy at the induction of 101 new technology trains in the shortest possible period of less than three years. He has expressed his desire for a detailed presentation of all the works under MUTP-I, II and III at a later date so that the suburban train operation on both Central and Western Railways can be streamlined,” Dr PC Sehgal, managing director of MRVC, said.

The Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) is one of the flagship programmes of the PMO, closely monitored for output and transparency at the highest level. Flagship programmes are regularly reviewed by Delivery Monitoring Unit set up in the PMO to monitor “iconic projects”.

The unit ensures troubleshooting through periodic reviews, informs the PM every quarter on the performance, evaluate impact and make sure that information on programmes are in the public domain to the possible extent.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 2nd, 2011, 02:43 AM

New Trains from old

Kurla car shed set to transform old but usable railway rakes, which would have been redundant after DC to AC shift
This year will see some old EMU rakes rolling out as new from the Central Railway (CR) car shed at Kurla. The car shed, after serving as a maintenance centre for 85 years, is putting old but sturdy EMUs back on track, freshly painted and retrofitted to perfection.

It is remaking them to meet the pressing needs of the ever expanding rail commuters of Mumbai.

The idea was born after the Central Railway realized that despite introducing some 44 new Siemens rakes, they were still short of rakes. There was also the question of what to do with existing rakes, which had life to last 15 more years, but would be non-operational after shifting from DC to AC traction.

After a lot of brainstorming, engineers and officials decided to design a transformer and rectifier to give a new avatar to existing rakes and there was no better place than the ‘Coorla’ Car shed to do it.

Commissioned in 1925, the car shed, 3000 meters long and 600 meters wide and which can hold 20 trains, is one of the biggest sites for the CR. Today, around 705 railway employees, including officials, work there. It was first constructed when electrification of the Harbour line was undertaken. This car shed is witness to the day the first electric train in Asia ran between CST and Coorla on February 3, 1925. It was maintained at this car shed.

The car shed has seen all, introduction and maintenance of first 4-coach rake to the present 12-coach rakes and probably 15-coach in near future; from the basic DC technology to modern AC technology and transforming the old rakes to new. EMU Kurla car shed, the first electric car shed in Asia, has now turned into a manufacturing unit too.

The car shed will be the first maintenance unit to retrofit old DC rakes into AC-DC dual rakes at CR. Right now, a motor coach is ready and work on two other coaches (driving coach and trailer coach) should be over soon. The first retrofitted rake will roll out mid-January.

“We had to design the transformer and rectifier, which cuts 25,000 volt down to 1500 volt. In this the DC system is retained, but some AC equipment have been added. A lot of mechanical modifications have been done. Our idea was very well supported by the Railway Board,” said Janak Kumar Gerg, Senior divisional electrical engineer.

“For this project nine staff including supervisors have been deployed. In reality, though, every staffer of the car shed is involved in some form or the other. It is a big project. A special team has been deputed. As the new technology is familiar, we are comfortable to work on it.”

RS Verma, in-charge of the project, added that the train would have steel partitions, seats and luggage racks. “The colour scheme would be in keeping with the new Siemens rakes,” he said.

Rajesh Karamjakar, fitter, is said, “We got an opportunity to learn new things. When this rake is ready, it will be a happy moment”.

YK Mulewa, a supervisor, said, “Software logic of Siemens and BHEL have been changed into hardware in the control system for retro-fitted rakes.”

In a year, CR will have to retrofit 10 trains. “Initially it takes time, but when one rake is successfully done, then there will be easy to work further. We have got one transformer now, the moment we get more, new rakes will be ready,” Gerg informed.

sirfviral

January 2nd, 2011, 01:26 PM

anujkb

January 2nd, 2011, 02:29 PM

sirfviral

January 2nd, 2011, 03:11 PM

we are fastest growing economy, doesnt mean that we are as retarded as our neighbours and build white elephants which is of no use but just to "showoff" the other countries.

hey anuj it's not all about show off ........its about city necessities it will give city's first fast or rapid mass transit system..........and reduces travel time lag and give relief to daily commuters from the chaotic mess of traffic jams in Mumbai.........watch this video then u will agree with me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT-mVT-ORww

KuwarOnline

January 2nd, 2011, 03:13 PM

nicely said anuj, but we can atleast build bullet kind of train,,, from pune -mum- ahmd ,, which i think already planned/proposed... so its really needed.... ya today we might not need maglev..... but we certainly need metro/mono which are already u/c, so we are sensible enough to build what is required...

Bombay Boy

January 2nd, 2011, 03:57 PM

the pace of mass rapid transport construction in bombay is ridiculously slow. 10 years after it was decided to build a metro system we are going to have a 11 km line. thats poor. even if we have 'different standards'

MeMumbaikar

January 2nd, 2011, 04:37 PM

mumbai does not need maglev

do you even realise how much maglev costs?

sirfviral

January 2nd, 2011, 04:52 PM

This is one example where we can compare how India is very slow in developing infrastrutures.We are 30 to 50 years behind China. No doubt we need a solid stable Government and Good leader, corruption free officials and politicians.This can be only in some movies or in our dreams.

sirfviral

January 2nd, 2011, 04:53 PM

Every day China amazes me. Say, what you will, a communist country, no democracy, no freedom for journalists, censorship, but when it comes to development...China is unrivaled. India, keep watching, you are only half a century behind China.

Smooth Indian

January 2nd, 2011, 05:56 PM

Bombay Boy

January 2nd, 2011, 06:16 PM

its a bit futile to compare a country with a humongous infra deficit that needs basic infra to continuing development in a highly developed society

india should compare itself to its asian, african and south american rivals. not north america or europe

SSCaddict

January 2nd, 2011, 06:29 PM

sixsigma1978

January 2nd, 2011, 06:30 PM

^^
Somehow when we get irritated at the pace of our infra development some of us feel that China is so many years ahead of us. But we fail to understand that in a large and diverse democracy like us taking big decisions does take time bcoz it is not a simplistic process in a democracy. And it is just not in India.

Even the USA which often talks abt its greatness is falling behind on infrastructure. And they are having a harder time trying to put up even medium size plans into action (e.g. New Jersey train tunnel project). Infact after the Interstate highway program no real big infra program of note has been carried out in the USA. And even small projects like streetcars(tramways) or bike lanes attract criticisms like "conspiracy to control the lives of americans" or "boondoggles (wasteful spending)".

Back home in mumbai the 2nd line is attracting criticism from residents of Khar-Bandra who demand that the line 2 metro tracks be underground when it goes through their part of town without realizing the increase cost and delay due to their stance. We all want first world living standards, but I think that comes after certain sacrifices. We like the fact that we can travel quickly and comfortably across mumbai in a plush air conditioned train. But we don't like it if the tracks are build opposite our balcony ( can enjoy the benefits of living in mumbai but cannot adjust even if it means progress for all).

In such a scenario it is easy to praise china for its mindless focus on big infra projects e.g. expressways, high speed trains, metro trains. But have those who praise the chinese approach ever stopped to think of the monetary and human cost of such an approach. The shanghai maglev for example is a speedy train line from the airport to the city center. An express double line electrified railway line would have done the job at a much lower cost. But the Chinese chose the maglev (a technology they didn't pioneer) for the bragging rights. The exorbitant cost and continued losses made by the system be damned. And do big ticket projects like these really benefit the common chinese folk and not just the middle/upper classes.

Nothing justifies India's lethargy in providing good infra to its citizens. But knee-jerk reactions to the progress made by our northern neighbour need to be avoided.

I disagree. If it weren't for the inevitable China India comparison, our upgradation would be far slower than what it is now. Take the CWG - i dont think ANYONE can keep track of count of how many times people tried to compare it to Chinese Olympics and the differences Delhi tried to make in comparing to what the Chinese did to Beijing in EVERY way. Had it not been to the inevitable China comparison - I'm pretty sure our unimaginative babus would have given a much more LackLustre CWG than what it was!!! Even building Delhi's T3 was inexorably tied to getting as much grandiose to Beijing's Mega International airport!! Even we SSCians don't shy from taking using the finer points of our Northern Neighbor while criticising or suggesting improvements to our own infrastructure or economy!! They have given us a yardstick - and its a very powerful weapon to kick some sense into our leaders, to remind them that MUCH MUCH more needs to be done instead of sitting back and gleefully smiling like idiots when any small project is completed!!!

I think its a GREAT thing we compare our infrastructure and development to Chinese. the fact that BOTH are third world and one is rising faster than the other - gives rise to competition - which is why things are taking a turn for the better for us Indians. Heck, we even have to THANK the chinese - for it it werent' for them - even our DEFENSE would have been Pakistan centric and NOT ambitious!! Both their economic as well as millitary threat is helping India scale heights that wouldn''t have been possible otherwise!!! We no longer tie ourselves as being PAKISTAN-centric (though Pakistan policies seem to be ONLY India centric :D) or SAARC specific(another LAME DUCK conglomeration- cant believe we used to accord it one of the highest priorities for 20 years!!) ! Competition with the most dynamic and rising economy is only HELPING us. Credit where credit is due!

Every resource we try to acquire - oil, gas, minerals - especially in Africa, is an attempt to make sure the Chinese dont end up hogging everything!! Without any of these threats - we'd still be in our fantasy world - and living happily with our idiotic "Hindu rate of growth"!
Of course, youre right that implementation in India takes longer because of democracy - but its the Inspiraton : China vs India, and our somewhat of a goal to keep pace with them - is a HUGE factor in India's growth!!!

gentem

January 2nd, 2011, 06:46 PM

no way mate
build to the highest standard and educate the people to use it.
if all of south east asia can use escalatiors why not india?

your thinking keeps standards low and is used by the state to do things badly :)

moreover there will be staircase too for those who need exercise :)

Smooth Indian

January 2nd, 2011, 07:29 PM

I disagree. If it weren't for the inevitable China India comparison, our upgradation would be far slower than what it is now. Take the CWG - i dont think ANYONE can keep track of count of how many times people tried to compare it to Chinese Olympics and the differences Delhi tried to make in comparing to what the Chinese did to Beijing in EVERY way. Had it not been to the inevitable China comparison - I'm pretty sure our unimaginative babus would have given a much more LackLustre CWG than what it was!!! Even building Delhi's T3 was inexorably tied to getting as much grandiose to Beijing's Mega International airport!! Even we SSCians don't shy from taking using the finer points of our Northern Neighbor while criticising or suggesting improvements to our own infrastructure or economy!! They have given us a yardstick - and its a very powerful weapon to kick some sense into our leaders, to remind them that MUCH MUCH more needs to be done instead of sitting back and gleefully smiling like idiots when any small project is completed!!!

I think its a GREAT thing we compare our infrastructure and development to Chinese. the fact that BOTH are third world and one is rising faster than the other - gives rise to competition - which is why things are taking a turn for the better for us Indians. Heck, we even have to THANK the chinese - for it it werent' for them - even our DEFENSE would have been Pakistan centric and NOT ambitious!! Both their economic as well as millitary threat is helping India scale heights that wouldn''t have been possible otherwise!!! We no longer tie ourselves as being PAKISTAN-centric (though Pakistan policies seem to be ONLY India centric :D) or SAARC specific(another LAME DUCK conglomeration- cant believe we used to accord it one of the highest priorities for 20 years!!) ! Competition with the most dynamic and rising economy is only HELPING us. Credit where credit is due!

Every resource we try to acquire - oil, gas, minerals - especially in Africa, is an attempt to make sure the Chinese dont end up hogging everything!! Without any of these threats - we'd still be in our fantasy world - and living happily with our idiotic "Hindu rate of growth"!
Of course, youre right that implementation in India takes longer because of democracy - but its the Inspiraton : China vs India, and our somewhat of a goal to keep pace with them - is a HUGE factor in India's growth!!!

Well!! I am not discounting all comparisions with China. I just feel we are at times obsessed about how we compare with china and that I feel is not healthy. We are still a different country than china and we must play to our strengths whether it is building better train systems or organizing sports events. IMHO the major blunder during the CWG was that we were somehow carried away with measuring up to china's Olympic feat. We forgot that we had organized two Asiad games in Delhi at a much lower cost and everything went smoothly without any problems or outcry. Some of us are suffering with "keeping up with the joneses" syndrome wherein we want to procure every new gadget that our neighbours buy whether we actually need (afford) it or not.
We ceased to be locked into the hindu rate of growth after 1991 much before the inevitable China-India comparison came in the 2000s. I don't think we were all that pakistan centric and whatever was has been reduced because we have proved to the world that we (as a country or as a people) are atleast competent in some fields. The world far away from our boundaries has begun to see us in a different light.
Competing for natural resources is different ball game and we must match China's efforts bcoz of china's hegemonistic designs.
All in all I feel it is okay to compare how we do with other countries (china included). But we have to be wise in deciding where we lag and the best means to overcome our lag. Now lets get back to discussing Mumbai Railways.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 2nd, 2011, 08:06 PM

Both the discussions are valid . In India we cannot do what chienese are doing at the cost of our contitutional rights. It is simple we cannot jail all the protestors in mumbai or massacare them who are opposing the 2nd line in mumbai. So the pace of the development has to be slower. In china we do not have these problem. If some one oppose they kill them (Tiananmen Square). So they can do development as fast as they want to show the strength of the dragon . However India can develop rapidly if it sees it's neghbious growing rapidly and trying to match their pace .

Bombay Boy

January 2nd, 2011, 08:26 PM

Bombay2Calcutta

January 2nd, 2011, 08:38 PM

You never know , they do not allow these kind of reports come out to the outside news agencies. Also I do not think HSR's are underground all through it's length.

sirfviral

January 2nd, 2011, 08:56 PM

yeah i agree with sigma seeing china as rival or competitor it will develop are infrastructure and defence at a extensive rate............then we dont need to worry about terrorist shit and backward country like porkistan

anujkb

January 2nd, 2011, 09:14 PM

nicely said anuj, but we can atleast build bullet kind of train,,, from pune -mum- ahmd ,,

scheduled routes for bullet trains-
considering bullet trains wil speeds max. 260 kmph, average about 190 kmph,

mumbai-pune bullet train will take EXACT 1 hr 10 minutes as per my calculations if taken from sewri nhava seva bridge, halting directly near amby valley and then somewhere at warje malwadi (bypass) before entering pune thru pimpale nilakh area (elevated for 5 km in city). will require a 7 km ramp to rise 200 m, followed by 15 km tunnel followed by 4.5 km long bridge at khadakwasla. (136 km)

mumbai-adi will take EXACT 3 hrs 20 min with stops at ST and BRC. im not sure whether narmada will be able to hold the fast rolling loads of bullet trains. (444 km)

next is delhi-agra. fully doable after Badar last busstiop of DTC buses. i dont know how on/in/above earth would it enter delhi area. delhi agra can be done in exact 50 mins. with no halts. itll be hard to get land here.

extend delhi-agra to kanpur and lucknow around 500 kms i think. can be doable in 3-4 hrs.

Also can try chennai-bangalore. very well doable in 3 hrs.

wow! i dont think china had mass killings while building metro lines. in fact most of their metro lines in congested areas are u/g

bombay is the only city in the world going for elevated lines in congested areas

Bombay is the only city in the world which can get 944 mm rain in 24 hrs.....:bash:

koresh

January 3rd, 2011, 01:33 AM

wow! i dont think china had mass killings while building metro lines. in fact most of their metro lines in congested areas are u/g

bombay is the only city in the world going for elevated lines in congested areas

Having visited Shanghai last week.I haven't travelled on all the lines, but most were underground. I was so sick of travelling in the subway by end of 2nd week.

You have to walk long distances to exit.For example in HongQiao, need atleast 20 mins to walk from the barriers to the Hongqiao long distance train station.In People Square there are 20 exits, it takes about 10 -15 mins to exit out of the underground.

Long walks

HongQiao Subway station to HongQiao Railway Station

http://img703.imageshack.us/img703/853/dsc0661resize.jpg

HongQiao airport station to HongQiao Railway Station

http://img717.imageshack.us/img717/7695/dsc0646resize.jpg

Shanghai Railway Station

http://img64.imageshack.us/img64/3182/dsc1109resize.jpg

I know a little about the how land issues are dealt there.

When the government takes land, they give them housing with a little bigger space.They have an identity card system and land issues are promptly dealt.They notify the people beforehand unlike in India where we don't know what is happening.

This is my personal experience.It took 1 year to finish a property dispute case, because the person was given 6 months to pay.Once the money could not be paid, court impounded the property and nominates an auction house, the property was sold. It took 1 month to finish the paper work and money was returned in the bank account in 3 days.

Only issue in China is take money out as you can bring any amount in but to remit out, only a chinese citizen can remit upto USD$50k per year.For others you need to show the remittance slip and can only remit the amount exchanged in 1 year. Other way is to change USD$500 per day or take RMB 20,000 per person per trip out of the country.

India will never be ready to take large projects as there is no vision on the part of people in power. Public money is wasted in renaming places and starting issues on historical controversies. Public mentality is we are poor and everything should be subsidised.When anything is build we don't want to pay the fair price.

If everything is for the poor masses then there would be no first class or business class or exclusive clubs.

The ground reality is that China is following a vision and India is not.

koresh

January 3rd, 2011, 01:41 AM

[B]

Bombay is the only city in the world which can get 944 mm rain in 24 hrs.....:bash:

That's a one off case, it could have happened anywhere due to global warming.If you know in Aug last year, Orchard Road, Singapore was flooded.The SG government is working towards avoiding a repeat, they have improved the drainage system. Northern Queensland, Australia is currently flooded, due to once in century rains. There will be many such environmental disasters, but Mumbai or India is not ready to handle due to various issues.

koresh

January 3rd, 2011, 01:58 AM

You never know , they do not allow these kind of reports come out to the outside news agencies. Also I do not think HSR's are underground all through it's length.

There is news censorship in China, cannot access google or facebook.If you try google, you are directed to Google - Hong Kong.

HSR's are overground.Metro is underground and overground. There are about 9 lines for Shanghai Metro and others being constructed. I travelled on Shanghai Line 1/2/3/4. Line 3/4 the metro is a circle line and is overground and underground in some parts.

Line 2 connects HongQiao Railway Station -Shanghai HongQiao International Airport-People Square-Nanjing Street(E)-Pudong Business District - Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

Shanghai Subway Line 3/4
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/4538/dsc1098resize.jpg
http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/6131/dsc1106resize.jpg
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_ZYMBHjjBde8/Sshy_Pn7vdI/AAAAAAAAG4c/Dgv3sSrldog/s800/DSC_0563.JPG

Yi Shan Rd Station

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/5821/dsc1103resize.jpg
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/1707/dsc1105resize.jpg

HSR @ HongQiao

http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/425/dsc0680resize.jpg
http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/5907/dsc0678resize.jpg

Singapore is a land-starved country and Singapore MRT is a elevated line.

copyright: Koresh
http://img696.imageshack.us/img696/4277/dsc1640resize.jpg

Bombay Boy

January 3rd, 2011, 08:18 AM

singapore only has elevated lines in areas with wide roads. have you been to juhu-khar-bandra?

KuwarOnline

January 3rd, 2011, 09:46 AM

At present we are in twenty first century century, India one of the world fastest growing economy...........and WTF!!! still we do not have maglev trains in Mumbai our financial capital of India and just take look at the shanghai .......this trains serves better connectivity to the airport and the other prime locations of the city which run at the speed 500 kmph.....i know this types of infra projects are financially expensive but atleast these project must be proposed so that it can see some sunlight in near future.

I dont know whether we will see in reality.... but plan are already there

Mumbai Maglev plan starts chugging, at last

A four-hour land journey between Mumbai and Nagpur may not remain a dream, with the state government firming up a plan to invite bids for a feasibility study for magnetic levitation (Maglev) trains.

On Monday, the government received an expression of interest from six leading infrastructure giants for preparing the feasibility report of high-speed Maglev trains with a minimum speed of 300kmph. Such trains are operational in China, Germany, Japan and France.

The state government’s planning department has proposed two-phase development of high-speed trains in the state. The first phase will see development of six routes in the Mumbai metropolitan region, with distances ranging from 20 to 50 kms. The second phase will be the much bigger passenger-cum-freight corridor between Mumbai and Nagpur, a distance of about 1,000km.

source

http://www.dnaindia.com/urlrewrite710.php?newsid=1140245
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/german-vossing-to-prepare-road-map-for-maglev-in-m%60rashtra/320634/

KuwarOnline

January 3rd, 2011, 11:02 AM

Mumbai : In a bid to conserve energy at stations,the Western Railway (WR ) has launched a new project that will ensure that lights on platforms switch off automatically when not in use.
The new plan is called the automatic platform lights controller system.Light controllers will be connected to the railway signals installed at a station.After a train chugs out of the station,around 70% lights on the platform will be switched off.Acting on the alert from the light controllers and the signals,the lights on the platform will again automatically switch on when another train approaches the station, said Sharat Chandrayan,chief public relations officer,WR.According to railway officials,the project can cut down on 40% of the power being utilized currently on platforms.The average consumption of electricity on platforms is around 1 lakh watt.The system will be installed at more than 700 stations on the WR line,but for the time being,the facility will not be launched in the city.The project will start at places beyond the city as well as the state,including stations such as Nandurbar,Jalgaon,Rajkot,Ahmedabad,Ujjain,Chittoor and Palanpur.The plan will be first implemented in smaller stations,as the traffic there is much less.At the moment,the system cannot be installed at important stations or in the city as the frequency of trains is high, Chandrayan said.The cost of the project at each station is estimated at Rs 25,000.Work has started and is expected to be complete by the end of next year, he said.

Source
http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=5&sectid=edid=&edlabel=TOIM&mydateHid=03-01-2011&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Mumbai&edname=&articleid=Ar00505&publabel=TOI

KuwarOnline

January 3rd, 2011, 11:04 AM

Mumbai : In a bid to improve efficiency of services,the Central Railway (CR) has undertaken several steps and one of them is to use LED (light-emitting diodes) in its signal network.This change,claim CR officials,helps reduce costs and maintenance of signals and nearly eliminates instances of signal failure.Each signal post usually consists of four colored lamps,one each of green and red and two amber ones;the process involves replacing the incandescent bulbs with the cost-effective LEDs.
CR first started the system on a pilot basis,in 2009,on the Mumbai CST-Kurla stretch and powered 285 signals with LED.After positive results,now the CR plans to replace the remaining 1,700 signals on its suburban network and has sought approval from the Railway Board.
With the replacement,the problem of signal bulbs fusing will be eliminated as LED bulbs have a lifespan of around 10 years.Conventional signal bulbs last for not more than 1-2 years.After this switchover,signals would require less maintenance and chances of signal failure (due to bulb fusing) will also be minimized.Even if a single diode doesnt work,it wont affect the signal system, informed a CR official.
Presently if a signal bulb gets fused,traffic on the track is affected till the filament is repaired.CR officials say that LED-powered signals are visible even from a distance of around 100 meters.These bulbs also require less power,which will also translate into significant savings.
The LED switchover project will cost Rs 5.1 crore.A proposal has been sent to the Railway Board for approval.After getting a green signal,it will take 12-24 months for the conversion to get through.The LED-powered signals are helpful for motormen as they are easily visible from a long distance, informed AK Singh,PRO Central Railway.

LED-ING THE WAY

285: Signal panels replaced with LED on the CR network Rs 30,000: The approximate cost of replacing a signal with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) Rs 5.1 crore: Approximate cost of replacing 1,700 signals 2 years: Time required for the switchover 10 years: The average lifespan of LED panel

Source
http://lite.epaper.timesofindia.com/mobile.aspx?article=yes&pageid=5&sectid=edid=&edlabel=TOIM&mydateHid=03-01-2011&pubname=Times+of+India+-+Mumbai&edname=&articleid=Ar00504&publabel=TOI

bharatiya

January 3rd, 2011, 03:25 PM

KuwarOnline

January 3rd, 2011, 03:32 PM

yes, but second article is from April 20, 2008, which says

German Consulting major Vossing have been selected by the Maharashtra government for its ambitious high-speed magnetic elevated (Maglev) train project on three major corridors in the state. Maharashtra Finance Minister Jayant Patil said that Vossing had been asked to submit a pre-feasibility report within eight days. source
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/german-vossing-to-prepare-road-map-for-maglev-in-m%60rashtra/320634/

Also the reason I said "I dont know whether we will see in reality" :)

World8115

January 3rd, 2011, 03:57 PM

Maglev is Maha Expensive for Maha Rashtra. HSR from Pune to Amdavad via Bumbai will be great and very popular IMO

Smooth Indian

January 3rd, 2011, 04:19 PM

I dont know whether we will see in reality.... but plan are already there

Mumbai Maglev plan starts chugging, at last

source

http://www.dnaindia.com/urlrewrite710.php?newsid=1140245
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/german-vossing-to-prepare-road-map-for-maglev-in-m%60rashtra/320634/

From time to time either the Maharashtra govt or Indian Railways comes up with such press releases. When pressure builds up to provide for better infra this is the response of our political leadership. Only to be forgotten when the next scandal arrives. There are probably several such plans submitted to the Maharashtra and Central govts.

In fact a few years ago, our PM Manmohan Singh had publicly stated that an HSR from Mumbai to Ahmedabad would cost around Rs 1,00,000 crores and was very prohibitive from the cost point of view.

sixsigma1978

January 3rd, 2011, 08:08 PM

^^ True - whenever I hear the words "Expression of Interest" - It usually signifies my grandchildren will be reading about how it ALMOST happened, in history books!

Abhishek901

January 3rd, 2011, 08:36 PM

next is delhi-agra. fully doable after Badar last busstiop of DTC buses. i dont know how on/in/above earth would it enter delhi area. delhi agra can be done in exact 50 mins. with no halts. itll be hard to get land here.

It could be parallel to Yamuna Expressway, enter Delhi along the DND Flyway and terminate at Nizamuddin or New Delhi though a small underground line.

bharatiya

January 3rd, 2011, 09:23 PM

anujkb

January 4th, 2011, 06:14 AM

@KuwarOnline, I feel that this project is just another way to create hype before elections. If pre-feasibility was due in April/May of 2008 and we haven't heard news since then I highly doubt it will happen anytime soon. Though you never know :)

Yes its just a hype, and these politicians cant think big, you know,

Had I been the CM, I would have proposed Mumbai-Nagpur in 16 minutes, running at 8000 kmph, completely underground from Mumbai (vashi creek) to Nagpur (outside Ramtek). I would have named it Bijlee express, o sorry, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar drutgati express. The technology is called Vactrain see here- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vactrain and I will boast that India is the first country that has made such a proposal. After several public demands, i will make it halt at vashi, pune, daund, beed, ahmednagar, jalna, jalgaon, aurangabad, washim parbhani amravati wardha. But still it will take 16 minutes. this will ensure "socio-economic development" of the "backward" marathwada regions.

If i say this in public, i will easily gain enough votes,

these politicians cant think big, you know.............. :bash:

bharatiya

January 4th, 2011, 06:53 AM

^ Can i do the pre-feasibility report?

I'll turn it in tomorrow saying FUCK NO

buddy_rohan

January 4th, 2011, 03:18 PM

Huge Mess is an understatement !! I don't want to derail this thread but one, and only one thing that comes to mind (when you are in Mahim/ShivajiPark area during Ambedkar Jayanti is), what the fuck did emancipation of the lower caste has done anything to IMPROVE their hygiene & civic sense levels. Answer, ZILCH.

Even Ambedkar himself would be very, very disappointed with the lot that he championed for.

completely agree......

buddy_rohan

January 4th, 2011, 03:31 PM

china is making a big hole for itself... the aviation or the rail sector will completely crash because of the price war between the airlines and the HSR's... and then govt. will have to bailout with billions of dollars just see the amount of U/C HSR's and the proposed.. if all is built it will be a big disaster..

we IF even build a HSR even in next 20yrs then it will be underutilised because no one will use as you can't subsidise the HSR(you will be in deep red if you do and we all know the financial condition of IR) and in india the LCA(low cost airlines) are increasing day by day... SO IMO NO NEED OF HSR's....

in india we need HSRs. hardly anyone takes flights between bombay-pune, bangalore-chennai, etc. HSRs will improve travel time, standard & reduce congestion between such cities they will never compete with low cost or any airlines. you could be right if there were plans for HSR between delhi-mumbai or mumbai-bangalore, distances over which HSRs are usually never feasible.

bharatiya

January 4th, 2011, 04:55 PM

when you take in factors such as getting to an airport, wait, security etc the hsr is a better option for distances upto around 500km because its usually city center to city center.

Restless

January 4th, 2011, 06:55 PM

The airlines and railways in China are all owned by the government anyway, and the Chinese regulators don't allow them to wage destructive price wars.

And the main purpose of the Chinese HSR network is to free up lots more freight capacity on the existing tracks - which then generates enough extra profit to subsidise the initial HSR losses.

china is making a big hole for itself... the aviation or the rail sector will completely crash because of the price war between the airlines and the HSR's... and then govt. will have to bailout with billions of dollars just see the amount of U/C HSR's and the proposed.. if all is built it will be a big disaster..

we IF even build a HSR even in next 20yrs then it will be underutilised because no one will use as you can't subsidise the HSR(you will be in deep red if you do and we all know the financial condition of IR) and in india the LCA(low cost airlines) are increasing day by day... SO IMO NO NEED OF HSR's....

SSCaddict

January 4th, 2011, 07:53 PM

^^ dude have a vision... every chinese know that the democracy and thus privatisation is coming very very shortly.. so just wait and watch..

@rohan paisa kitna hoga bhai? agar Rs 2000-3000 hoga toh kaun travel karega?

devendra1

January 4th, 2011, 10:27 PM

Airlines can just take you from one city to another non stop. Add the time of going in and comming out of airport and travelling to your destination.
On the Other hand HSR can have some limited no of stops between the 2 cities.
If you take example of Pune- Mumbai -> there are 2 stops in Pune , then Chinchwd, talegaon , Lonawala -khandala, panvel, Vashi, Andheri, Colaba (i am just making up a route). I have given limited stops, so if some one from Lonavala wants to come to Pune currently only option is local train which takes around 1.5 hrs with HSR it will be 40 mins max. Also any one wants to go from Chinchwad to Vashi, they can use HSR, instead of going to Pune Airport and from Mumbai Airport to Vashi.

I think HSR is a must between some major cities but short distance.

As of Now I can only think of following which can be done on Priority, other routes can be added later.

1) Pune - Mumbai -> Already 3-4 trains in Morning having many people doing daily up-down for work. There are lot many going to work either to Pune/Mumbai from talegaon/ Lonavala. HSR will help in developing this region and bring more development on outskirts of the 2 cities which have very costly realestate.
2) Chennai- Bangalore -> not sure about daily up-down in this region, but think it will be significant.
3) Mumbai- Surat -> Again there are people doing daily up-downs.
4) Delhi -Chandigrah -> In this case I think most of the traffic will be one way in the morning(towards Delhi) as not many will be going to chandigrah for work from delhi. So this can be low priority unless Chandigrah develops as a major city.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 5th, 2011, 08:07 AM

Tight squeeze for 15-car rake

Trains Won’t Halt At Stations Between Dadar & Churchgate As Platforms Have Not Been Extended

Simit Bhagat TNN

The crush of humanity on the notorious Virar local will finally get some breathing space as Western Railway (WR) will be introducing the popular 15-car train services right up to Churchgate by early next month. The transition from 12- to 15-coach trains will take place in phases over the next three years, and will see an almost 25% augmentation of passenger capacity on Churchgate-Virar trains. And now for the bad news: not a single platform on stations after Dadar—Churchgate included—can accommodate 15-car rakes.
While WR is working overtime to lengthen threee platforms at Chruchgate station from the existing 270 m to 330 m by February, the trains will not halt at other stations namely Mumbai Central, Grant Road, Charni Road and Marine Lines.
The extension of the service to Churchgate will not be smooth. At present, there are twelve 15-coach train services running between Dadar and Virar. “The length of all the platforms at stations after Dadar is around 270 metres, and can only accommodates 12-car trains,” said a senior railway official. He added that work on the platforms at Churchgate is already in full swing. “We are hoping to complete extending the platform length to 330 m by the end of January in time for the 15-car train to ply.”
The lengthening of other platforms including Mumbai Central will be undertaken in phases. “Until the other platforms are extended, the train will not halt at any station between Dadar and Churchgate,” said Sharat Chandrayan, chief public relations officer (CPRO) of WR.
The project of converting all the existing 420 train services to Virar into 15-cars ones is a part of WR’s long-term plan to increase the passenger capacity. WR officials have also appointed a threemember committee to study the infrastructure required for 15-car rakes.
“Currently, we run just one 15-car rake, which makes 12 trips a day between Dadar and Virar. However, we will require around 20 trains in order to convert all the 420 train services into 15-car ones,” said Chandrayan. Other major works that will need to be carried out for implementing the project includes extension of the dock platform at Virar for the train to terminate. “We will also have to augment platforms such as Bhayander, Vasai, Naigaon, and Dahisar. Over the next two years, we will increase the length of the platforms at many stations,” he added.
It’s not just platforms but even station roofs that have to be extended to accommodate the longer trains.
According to sources, there are no immediate plans to increase the cover shed to accommodate the 15-car trains. “This means that passengers who use the three additional coaches at the northern end of Churchgate station will have stand in the sun (or rain) in the absence of shelter,” said Shailendra Kamble, convener of Pravas Adhikari Andolan Samiti.

FROM VIRAR TO CHURCHGATE

Every day, Western Railway runs 420 services between Churchgate and Virar

Number of 15-car services between Dadar and Virar | 12

THE ROADBLOCK

With the exception of Dadar, all stations up to Churchgate cannot accommodate 15-coach trains

The length of platforms at Mumbai Central, Grant Road, Charni Road, Marine Lines and Churchgate is 270 m

Required length of platforms for 15-car trains

330 m

Passenger Load During Peak Hours

Carrying capacity of a 12-car train 5,200 commuters

Carrying capacity of a 15-car train
6,400
commuters

Bombay2Calcutta

January 5th, 2011, 08:09 AM

Stations buckle under rising load

Simit Bhagat TNN

Mumbai: There’s no denying that Western Railway’s (WR) move to convert all 420 twelvecar services from Churchgate to Virar into 15-coach ones over the next three years will bring relief to lakhs of Mumbaikars. But almost all the stations along this route are not equipped to handle the passenger load, which will increase by almost 25% once the project is completed. Every 15-car train that halts at a station will disgorge a couple of thousand more people at stations that have narrow stairways and exit points.
Even now, stations do not have the infrastructure to accommodate passenger traffic from 12-coach trains, say commuters. Human traffic jams are a common sight at every station. “During peak hours, passengers have to literally fight their way out of busy stations such as Dadar. If the existing amenities are not upgraded, there will be chaos,” said Sameer Jhaveri of the Mumbai Suburban Railways Passengers Association.
According to activists, a single 12-car train carries around 5,200 commuters during peak hours between Churchgate and Virar. “If the numbers of coaches are increased to 15, the railways will also have to ensure that commuters can get out of the station easily,” said Shailendra Kamble, convener of Pravas Adhikari Andolan Samiti. “This is an issue that railway officials cannot take lightly,” he added.
According to Sharat Chandrayan, chief public relations officer, WR is working towards finding a solution. “At present, there are around 83 foot-over-bridges (FOB) between Churchgate and Virar, which provide an exit from the stations. Even as we implement the project of converting train services into 15-cars ones, we will also simultaneously work on increasing the number of FOBs across all stations,” he said.
Within the next two years, WR plans to construct 40 more FOBs at various suburban stations in Mumbai. “This should ensure smooth crowd dispersal during peak hours. We are also planning to create new exit points,” Chandrayan added.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 5th, 2011, 08:09 AM

Too little too late: Activists

Simit Bhagat TNN

Mumbai: Lakhs of Mumbaikars who are dependent on local trains to travel long distances every day are looking forward to the 15-car services. For Mayuresh Baraskar, who commutes from Bhayander to Grant Road every day, this is the best New Year gift. “Every day, I have to literally fight with my fellow passengers to board the train. Let’s not talk about getting a seat. With the new 15-car trains, I hope I will be able to get into the train with ease,” he said.
Many activists, however, feel that WR’s move is too little too late. Salma Shaikh, whose relative died in a rail accident—he fell off a crowded train—hopes that the new services will see a drop in the number of railway accidents and deaths that take every day. In November 2009, her son Usman (24) was severely injured in a similar accident. “Although, my son lost his hand and leg after falling off a train, I can only hope and pray that others do not meet the same fate,” said Shaikh.
Every year, nearly 3,000 people die in railway accidents, on both WR and CR. In 2008, the death toll was 3,091 and in 2009 the number of fatalities was marginally lower at 2,954. Another 2,411 Mumbaikars lost their lives between January and October 2010. In other words, in 2010 alone, around eight people have died every day in rail-related accidents. The death toll includes track-crossing. Sameer Jhaveri of the Mumbai Suburban Railways Passengers Association, said: “The railway authorities have finally woken up to commuter woes. Although it is a good initiative and will bring relief to commuters, they should have started the conversion to 15-car rakes earlier.” He, like many activists, are sceptical of WR’s promise to convert all 420 Churchgate-Virar services to 15 cars within three years.
Advertisement

buddy_rohan

January 5th, 2011, 03:57 PM

@rohan paisa kitna hoga bhai? agar Rs 2000-3000 hoga toh kaun travel karega?

I'm not sure if this is right thread to discuss HSR in general but anyways as far as Mumbai is concerned, lets continue:

when it comes to money it is not a very simple calculation. i think it has been discussed several times in other threads, e.g. the viability of the delhi airport express for commuters to pay Rs.150, it caters to rich, it will not have patronage, etc. etc. (which I dont believe to be true for many reasons)

No doubt it will be costlier than our IR trains or coaches, but the standard of travel would have improved dramatically. I'm not talking of luxurious seats or airconditioned coaches. I'm talking of overall benefit including faster travel between important locations, much lower pollution pppkm (coaches are horrible in this regard). such projects pave way for more growth in and around the points they connect. so from development point of view its a YES YES.

if you are willing to pay 1500-3000 on low cost airlines, then why not this? for regular commuters, there could be season passes. and look at the no. of people travelling between Mumbai-Pune. we want additional capacity and alternative choices. if travel time between Pune and Nariman point becomes 1-1.5 hours, then you would rather live in Pune rather than clogged up Borivli or Chembur. (Well pune is clogged up too, let us say Panvel where the HSR might stop). you would have better travel conditions, so you might even work on trains which will have wi-fi connectivity, etc. you would have more energy to work and that might improve your performance, where you might earn more and hence pay for the higher travel costs. This seems slightly far fetched but this is what happens whenever such projects are delivered. And I have not even elaborated the direct benefits.

Why are we even building Mumbai metros when its travel cost will be higher than suburban? or why are we buying clothes from better shops on Linking Road when you can get very cheap ones from Kurla.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 5th, 2011, 09:01 PM

^^ We can have a separate thread to discuss HSR

Bombay2Calcutta

January 5th, 2011, 09:01 PM

http://www.cr.indianrailways.gov.in/cr/hq/news/Midday.jpg

Bombay2Calcutta

January 5th, 2011, 09:04 PM

Railways phase out British-era card tickets
Published: Tuesday, Jan 4, 2011, 0:06 IST
By Rajendra Aklekar, Rajendra Aklekar & Rajendra Aklekar | Place: Mumbai, Mumbai, Mumbai | Agency: DNA, DNA, DNA

Card tickets, vestiges of the British way of ticketing, are slowly being phased out by the country’s oldest railway lines in the city.

Computerisation has begun replacing these vintage tickets with printed slips called Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) ticket slips. The railways now have a centralised accounting software, making huge transactions on the suburban lines easy.

“Card tickets are no longer in use on Western Railway’s suburban section. There used to be two types of tickets: one issued through self-printed machines for 10 most popular destinations and the other, made of card, were inserted in vertical tubes and dispensed through slots. Both have been replaced with UTS slips,” Sharat Chandrayan, WR chief spokesperson, said.

These tickets have served commuters for over 150 years. Though they are still available at smaller stations where computers are yet to reach, they are on the decline on the suburban railway system on Central Railway (CR) too.

“A few stations in the city continue to dispense them, but we are computerising our ticketing system for better services,” Ashok Singh, spokesperson for CR which had run India’s first train in 1853, said.

A senior official informed that the card ticket system was originally part of the Edmondson ticketing system. It came to India in the late 1860s and has been here since.

“We are replacing this age-old system of issuing card tickets with the computerised system. This will make our ticketing system centralised and help us know within seconds the exact number of tickets sold, as the database will be readily available,” Singh added. “Gradually, we will promote other forms of issuing tickets, such as the automated ticket vending machines and coupon validating machines,” said a senior CR official.

“A continuing practice, which dates back to the earliest days of Indian railways, is that of distinguishing tickets issued between stations on different railway systems with a red horizontal wavy band,” says British railway ticket enthusiast John King, who recently made a trip to India to enhance his private collection on Indian railway tickets.

Despite the decline of the card ticket, the iron ticket-punching machines of a bygone era continue to be kept in a corner of the ticket counters at several stations for emergency use.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 5th, 2011, 09:06 PM

http://www.cr.indianrailways.gov.in/cr/hq/news/Times.jpg

bhargavsura

January 6th, 2011, 01:28 AM

Sometimes if there is no line, you can get a ticket in 3 seconds and not 180 seconds. :lol:

KuwarOnline

January 6th, 2011, 08:06 AM

for big station like Thane its nice to have.... some times ticket queues are very long...

anujkb

January 6th, 2011, 12:34 PM

printing for a computerized ticket takes more time than just the insertion one. 5-8 seconds for command, 3-4 secs for printout; and some say 2-3 secs for change. and for the old khataaaak system- just 1 second to put in and out

Bombay2Calcutta

January 6th, 2011, 08:26 PM

Andheri station building fails to impress commuters

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times
Mumbai, January 06, 2011First Published: 01:59 IST(6/1/2011)

The new state-of-the-art station building at Andheri (East) opened with much fanfare on December 20. But commuters are already complaining that the number of ticket counters for suburban trains have reduced. The building has been constructed at a cost of Rs 4.41 crore. “Earlier, there were 13 ticket windows, now there are 10 windows,” said Kailash Verma, member, Mumbai Rail Pravasi Sangh.

Another complaint is that the pathway leading to the ticket counter is narrow, which leads to a lot of congestion. Commuters feel that some windows are closed especially during peak hours. “We thought this building would have everything and we would not have to wait in long queues,” said Samir Pawar, a commuter who travels to Lower Parel every day.

Commuters said there is a lot of noise pollution because of the work, which is underway on the skywalk. The skywalk will be connected to the second floor of the building.

“We will complete work on the second floor in a phased manner. Then commuters will have seven more UTS counters, so this is a temporary issue,” said S Chandrayan, chief PRO, Western Railway.

The second floor is expected to complete by April.

The building has 10 UTS counters, 8 PRS counters (reservation counters for long distance trains), public toilets, two lifts and a food plaza on the ground floor. The first floor houses the VIP room, magistrate court and office.

Western Railway officials said after the skywalk will make it easier for commuters to reach the platform.

“Commuters can directly walk till the building, buy a ticket and reach the platform using the foot overbridge,” the WR official said

MeMumbaikar

January 7th, 2011, 12:07 AM

well this is exactly the kind of conditions i encounter off peak.

3-9j5WDnHlE

cc shahrukhasundaria

just need a way to make the rush hour scale up.

fuwad

January 7th, 2011, 08:51 AM

Railways abandons Oshiwara station after 80% work

Published: Friday, Jan 7, 2011, 2:36 IST
By Rajendra Aklekar | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

The railways have abandoned work on Oshiwara railway station, coming up between Jogeshwari and Goregaon railway stations, following opposition from locals.

Residents said that the station would force the shutdown of a level-crossing gate, which is the only form of connectivity between the east and west sides of the suburb.

Railway officials said that residents maintained they would not allow the level-crossing gate to be shut down till a road over-bridge is built at the site.

Construction of the station building and platforms is not possible without the closure of the crossing. Following delays, the World Bank has also withdrawn its funding for the project.

The railways had begun work on the station in 2006 to fulfil commuters’ long-pending demand. It was to be completed by 2008. To match the standards of the Vashi station, it was to be constructed on a total area of 115x30 square metres. It was to have a platform, two booking offices and a building.

Unlike other stations, the new station would not have had separate platforms but only one that could be approached via two foot over-bridges at the north and south ends, where the two booking offices would be located.

Sources said the existing tracks for Up and Down local trains would have been shifted to the new station and aligned with the platform.

“Till now, 80% of the work has been completed. Earth-filling and levelling have been done and a retaining wall has been constructed. If the level-crossing is closed, we can complete work within a year,” a top official said.

Residents are split over the issue with a few wanting the station and others the road over-bridge. “The authorities should first build the over-bridge and then shut down the crossing. The money for two road over-bridges was sanctioned and they were to be ready by 1993. But nothing happened,” a resident said. Authorities said the over-bridge construction would take time and delay the entire process by another five to six years.

“We will conduct a large public meet on January 8 to get all residents on one platform to sort out the issue. We have invited local civic officials, and railway engineers to improve public amenities around Oshiwara,” Suleman Bhimani, a local resident said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_railways-abandons-oshiwara-station-after-80pct-work_1491304

fuwad

January 7th, 2011, 08:53 AM

Mumbai rail projects hit by funds’ crunch

Published: Friday, Jan 7, 2011, 1:46 IST
By Rajendra Aklekar | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

The city’s railways are facing a severe funds’ crunch, and it may affect a number of ongoing frail upgrade projects on Central and Western Railway.

The issue came up for discussion between local officials and a World Bank team on Thursday at the 59th coordination meeting of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project at Churchgate.

Delays in completion of projects have led to cost escalation in many of them. As a result, the railways are facing a cash crunch in finishing all of them. Crucial projects — like additional rail corridors between Kurla and Thane and conversion of direct current to alternating current — that are important for seamless connectivity could be affected if the funding crisis is not solved.

“While the first phase of the MUTP is almost getting over, the second phase has already begun. The problem is that the cash crunch is affecting day-to-day routine of the projects and leading to major detentions and delays,” a senior official said.

“The problem has occurred as many projects have shot their deadlines and the cost has escalated to unimaginable amounts and this is where the problem lies. Many of the other unimportant smaller projects are being pushed to the next financial year, with the railway budget expected in second half of February,” he added.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_mumbai-rail-projects-hit-by-funds-crunch_1491306

fuwad

January 7th, 2011, 08:54 AM

Mumbai’s suburban railway to be an autonomous body?

Published: Friday, Jan 7, 2011, 1:23 IST
By Rajendra Aklekar | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA

The long-pending demand of separating Mumbai’s suburban railways from the Indian Railways could soon be a reality. This would make it financially independent, so that it does not have to depend on the centre for the smallest of decisions.

Last week, many officials were taken by surprise after railway minister Mamata Banerjee made Kolkatta Metro into a separate body, making it the 17th railway zone of the railways.

But few know that this is in line with the policy document formulated by her proposing segregation of suburban railways, including those in Mumbai, Kolkatta and Chennai. The proposals are a part of the white paper on Indian Railways that she has tabled in the Parliament.

Officials said the separate body as proposed by Banerjee would solve the Mumbai suburban railways’ age-old problems as the main obstacle in improvement of suburban rail services has been slow decisions and execution. “Kolkatta has been converted and now Mumbai and Chennai are on the radar,” a senior official said.

Among the other options discussed to improve the efficiency of the suburban railways, Banerjee talks of investment by local municipal bodies and state government by building infrastructure and development of suburban rail network.

A senior railway official said that this would help Mumbai in several ways. The Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) is a separate entity today but it does not have any powers. It plays the role of a co-ordinator for World Bank project funding and not any aspect of running trains.

“Such bodies can be given more power, for better efficiency. Either it could be the existing MRVC or a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), which could run the Mumbai suburban railway,” he added.

Though local officials were tight-lipped on the proposal, most of them welcomed it. “I think Mamataji is going in the right direction. A separate unit for suburban railway would mean quick planning and implementation of projects and new services. It would mean life being easier for the commuters as their demands could be understood properly at the local level and could be catered to effectively,” a senior official said.

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_mumbai-s-suburban-railway-to-be-an-autonomous-body_1491298

KuwarOnline

January 7th, 2011, 10:40 AM

hope so.... will be great step..

Bombay2Calcutta

January 7th, 2011, 03:36 PM

hope so.... will be great step..

+1 It will be a really good step

devendra1

January 7th, 2011, 09:21 PM

It was announced some time back, but it should have got implemented in Mumbai before Kolkata as Mumbai needs most badly than any other city. Region based politics as usual.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 8th, 2011, 02:50 AM

ENGINE ON A MISSION

VACUUM CLEANER ON TRACK

Simit Bhagat | TNN

For decades, an army of rag-pickers would march up and down the city’s railway tracks gathering empty plastic bottles, wrappers and other garbage that had been thoughtlessly discarded by commuters. But now, Central Railway (CR) has its very own vacuum cleaner. For the first time in India, an engine has been modified into a massive trash can, which is able to pull in all the garbage as it chugs along the tracks.
An old engine that was to be relegated to the scrap yard got a new lease on life when CR general manager Kul Bhushan came up with the idea of morphing it into a garbage disposal system on wheels. CR engineers worked on the engine at the Parel workshop and last week it was quietly put to work.
Vinit Kumar, deputy general manager, Central Railway said, “We have modified one of our old engines in such a way that it will work as a vacuum cleaner.”

Night duty

For over a week now, CR officials have been operating this cleaner-on-wheels every night on some of the dirtiest stretches on the central line—between Kurla and Wadala stations, and CST and Masjid stations

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/TOIM/2011/01/08/7/Img/Pc0071200.jpg

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/TOIM/2011/01/08/7/Img/Pc0071000.jpg

p2p4

January 8th, 2011, 04:54 AM

bhargavsura

January 8th, 2011, 05:28 AM

+1 It will be a really good step

Let DMRC manage it.

bhargavsura

January 8th, 2011, 05:33 AM

^^^^^

Too late but never too late to clean up the railway tracks.
Rail tracks in India are a shame to look at. Especially environmentally sensitive tracks like the one on Konkan route !

Good step though - let's hope more of these Vaccum Engines are put to use all over the country.

Just looking at it and thinking that it might be a lot of pain for the person to walk through the tracks and use the vacuum hose to suck garbage up. Reminds me of some construction workers have to get off the trucks to fill up the potholes with tar every few yards. Won't it be lot easier and cheaper just to employ workers to clean the tracks up?

KuwarOnline

January 8th, 2011, 11:38 AM

thats good initiative :cheers:

devendra1

January 9th, 2011, 12:00 AM

what an innovative idea.

p2p4

January 9th, 2011, 03:00 AM

Just looking at it and thinking that it might be a lot of pain for the person to walk through the tracks and use the vacuum hose to suck garbage up. Reminds me of some construction workers have to get off the trucks to fill up the potholes with tar every few yards. Won't it be lot easier and cheaper just to employ workers to clean the tracks up?

It would be a back breaking nightmare for any rag picker to individually sift through the ballast for smallest of garbage. Besides, if you have seen any RPs on rail tracks, they do a half hearted job and it would take a lot of time to pick up trash.

I would have hoped for an automatic garbage sucker where the engine basically goes over and sucks up loose garbage. This one still seems to be a manual job of 'pointing' the hose.

Anyways, a good start ! But I wonder where would the waste be disposed off? (NOT ON ANOTHER rail track I hope) :D

p2p4

January 9th, 2011, 03:04 AM

http://www.jdrail.com.au/JD%20Rail%20Machines%20Industrial%20Rail%20Vacuum%20Machines.html

Googled Rail track vaccum machines and found this one ! We all learn something everyday :D

bhargavsura

January 9th, 2011, 04:58 AM

Good link p2p4. I will go through it later. Just went over it briefly.

sumant

January 9th, 2011, 06:04 AM

I think the railways have their own dumpyard or they probably might have an agreement with bmc to use part of their dumpyards.

SSCaddict

January 9th, 2011, 05:35 PM

This one still seems to be a manual job of 'pointing' the hose.

more railway jobs ;)

Bombay2Calcutta

January 9th, 2011, 07:49 PM

http://www.jdrail.com.au/JD%20Rail%20Machines%20Industrial%20Rail%20Vacuum%20Machines.html

Googled Rail track vaccum machines and found this one ! We all learn something everyday :D

Good link p2p4 . It was a good learning.

bhargavsura

January 10th, 2011, 02:11 AM

It would be a back breaking nightmare for any rag picker to individually sift through the ballast for smallest of garbage. Besides, if you have seen any RPs on rail tracks, they do a half hearted job and it would take a lot of time to pick up trash.

I would have hoped for an automatic garbage sucker where the engine basically goes over and sucks up loose garbage. This one still seems to be a manual job of 'pointing' the hose.

There's always those pick-up tools that you can that you don't have to bend over and pick the things up without breaking your backs.

p2p4

January 10th, 2011, 02:59 AM

There's always those pick-up tools that you can that you don't have to bend over and pick the things up without breaking your backs.

Absolutely agree with you on the tools available. But Bhargav, have you seen how many sweepers and cleaners still use the back bending JHADOO ? Even in Mumbai airport they still use the jhadoo which forces a laborer to bend. I always wonder why don't they use the long stick brooms but I guess when it comes to Indian Govt, a tender would be issued for supply of "BROOMS" and someone would inflate the price ... and so forth and so forth and so forth.. till you have a broom scam.

Sorry to derail this thread but I think the most common of commodities required for cleanup work called "common sense" in terms of introducing better tools just does not exist.

Also - laborers have their own set ways of doing things and if they have been used to using rudimentary tools, they will stick to it. Habits die hard - unless you introduce something like this (Engine Vaccum Cleaner) which is imposing

I am in support of your view of using basic tools.. but I hope the above points give a perspective on the current state of lackadaisical approach towards cleanups

bhargavsura

January 10th, 2011, 05:25 AM

Absolutely in agreeance with you. BTW, I went through your link.

I just didn't get one point. Why would they use like a hose-vac to vacuum. Why can't they use like a nozzle vac (This is just an example. (http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_07177013000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2) Its a lawn vac) But I am trying to suggest a same idea of using a bigger vehicle with a nozzle vac which gives a bigger surface area, so much more can be sucked in at a time and it eliminates the labor dilemma.

And here's what I am talking about. This is just an idea. Not sure if this can be possible?

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/2760/30272895.jpg

p2p4

January 10th, 2011, 06:49 AM

Great minds (you and me .. hehehe ) think alike !!! :D
Even I had a similar idea as to sucking up a large area in one go (as what you have mentioned) instead of a pointed hose. A large vaccum engine moving on the tracks should be able to do that job i/o a pointed hose.

Now this is under assumption - perhaps IR does not have the wherewithall to design a mega-sucker and even if they did, perhaps, it would suck up everything in its path depending on how intense is the power of vaccuming.

Perhaps they could do with variable suction powers ? I have no answers beyond this point but let's hope - whatever they have designed, gives them enough ideas to expand on much bigger and better designs.

p2p4

January 10th, 2011, 06:53 AM

Sorry Bhargav - one observation about your example : Lawn vacs are designed to suck up foliage. On tracks - especially Mumbai tracks, the garbage dumped is varied - from rubber tyres to plastic bags to food waste to glass bottles to metal cans and many tumrels. Not to mention a lot of human waste .

Cheers mate
p2p4

sammyk

January 10th, 2011, 04:41 PM

Well, my 2 cents. I think using a loco is overkill. They could just use a truck mounted vac, like in p2p4s link, and be able to control the hose from inside.

sgups

January 10th, 2011, 05:42 PM

^^^ may be overkill but it is extending the life of a dying asset and not having to make capital expenditure right now. A fleet of those trucks operating on rails would be nice to have though.

sammyk

January 10th, 2011, 05:49 PM

^^^ may be overkill but it is extending the life of a dying asset and not having to make capital expenditure right now. A fleet of those trucks operating on rails would be nice to have though.

Let dying engines die. I'd imagine it sucks a lot of diesel. They could probably buy a few trucks that have lower operating costs.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 10th, 2011, 08:17 PM

Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Plan-for-rail-routes-to-link-wholesale-markets/articleshow/7250887.cms)
Heritage hit? Railways’ plan for CST will have it surrounded by high-rises

Mumbai Chchatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the only railway terminus in the world to flaunt a UNESCO World Heritage Site tag, may soon be dwarfed by a 35-storey luxury hotel, eight commercial highrises and a 21-storey commercial complex if the Indian Railways get the go-ahead for its proposed modernisation plan.
Recently Newsline had reported that Central Railway had asked UNESCO to dilute some conditions laid down for safeguarding the heritage value of the CST precinct. The UNESCO has now lobbed the ball into the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee’s court. Expressing its reservations to the height of the proposed commercial structures and the hotel, UNESCO has asked the Railways to first get the heritage panel’s approval following which it would get an independent architect to review the project.

The Railways has cited economic viability as the reason why it has to let a developer commercially exploit 9.6 hectares of vacant railway land on the P D’Mello side in lieu of taking up modernisation of the station premises. These structures would come up in Buffer Zone II, which as per the UNESCO guidelines should “avoid commercial, high-rise development that shall congest the area, or obstruct or distract the view of CST from a distance or any location as a result be potential threat to the CST.”

Last week, the Railways made a detailed presentation to the heritage panel of its plans to restore the structure, create more passenger amenities, make the premises more pedestrian friendly by shifting parking to a new basement and connect the terminus to the proposed Metro rail. However, the plan to hand over a vast track of railway land to developers for the same has not gone down well with the committee members.

While committee chairman D K Azfalpurkar said he would give his opinion only after a formal discussion with the committee this week, several members and heritage activists voiced their strong opposition to the plan.

“There is no need for the Railways to allow such large-scale private development on its land. Constructing a contemporary highrise in the backdrop of the unique structure would spoil the skyline in the same way the stock exchange building juts out from behind the Bombay High Court,” said Maharashtra Chief Architect B M Sankhe, who is also a committee member.

City historian Sharada Dwivedi said the proposal will only devalue the Grade I heritage structure and spoil the skyline silhouette. “There was such a furore when the proposal for Crawford Market redevelopment had come up even though it lies at a distance from the CST station. The railways have come up with this disastrous plan of allowing highrises when its top priority should be to budget for protection of the heritage status of this rare structure,” she said.

sammyk

January 10th, 2011, 09:50 PM

Big deal, look at Grand Central Station, surrounded by high rises. Doesn't seem to take away from it's old school charm.

bhargavsura

January 10th, 2011, 11:42 PM

Great minds (you and me .. hehehe ) think alike !!! :D
Even I had a similar idea as to sucking up a large area in one go (as what you have mentioned) instead of a pointed hose. A...... I have no answers beyond this point but let's hope - whatever they have designed, gives them enough ideas to expand on much bigger and better designs.

You are right. There's always gonna be a lot of space for new designs and better techniques and calculations involving minimal human efforts to work these things out.

bharatiya

January 11th, 2011, 01:25 AM

lets hope for the highrises and not too much heritage-based slowdowns.

bhargavsura

January 11th, 2011, 04:26 AM

Big deal, look at Grand Central Station, surrounded by high rises. Doesn't seem to take away from it's old school charm.

Don't worry. People just need excuses to make money and elongate process.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 11th, 2011, 04:41 AM

DNA (http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_highest-growth-in-commuter-traffic-in-virar-dahanu-belt_1492548)
Highest growth in commuter traffic in Virar-Dahanu belt

If you had doubts that Vasai-Virar belt is growing faster than any other part of the city, latest official studies and statistics from the Western Railway offer all the proof.

Kelve station, about 80km from Churchgate on the Virar-Dahanu section, has reported the highest per cent growth in passenger traffic this year. None of the other stations on the line have shown such a tremendous growth pattern in one year.

“Among all the stations, Kelve Road has shown the highest significant rise in number of passengers of nearly 22% followed by Naigaon at 13.33%, then Vangaon at 9.47% and Boisar at 8.64%,” said Sharat Chandrayan, chief WR public relations manager.

“There has been a real estate boom in the area and property prices have seen the highest growth there in the past few years,” AK Jayeshwar of Mauli Real Estate consultants said.

“Kelve is also a popular picnic spot and has a fine beach just 5km away from the station,” he added.

Naigaon, about 47.5km from Churchgate and the first station after the Vasai creek, has also seen an unprecedented growth in passengers.

“Mira Road is saturated and developers are moving southwards to Naigaon. At Vangaon, there are industrial hubs and at Boisar there is a low-cost housing project by the Tatas offering 1,000 units,” another consultant Jiten Shah said.

Suburban trains on WR as of now ply on the 60km distance between Churchgate and Virar, which had led to massive urbanisation and formation of small townships along the border of the city in Virar and Vasai.

Railways has now announced that the technical work on the line is complete and direct local trains from Churchgate to Dahanu or between Virar and Dahanu can begin anytime this year.

The 60-km stretch between Virar and Dahanu has seven stations, including Vaitarna, Saphale, Kelve Road, Palghar, Umroli, Boisar and Vangaon.

“A large amount of unexplored land will now open for development and a large number of construction and housing projects have already lined up in the area,” he said.

jubin

January 11th, 2011, 04:55 AM

Big deal, look at Grand Central Station, surrounded by high rises. Doesn't seem to take away from it's old school charm.

Don't worry. People just need excuses to make money and elongate process.

your argument is specious. grand central station is not a world heritage site, VT is. statue of liberty is a world heritage site, and regardless of the real estate values there will not be any swanky world class high rises on liberty or ellis island.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 11th, 2011, 06:11 AM

your argument is specious. grand central station is not a world heritage site, VT is. statue of liberty is a world heritage site, and regardless of the real estate values there will not be any swanky world class high rises on liberty or ellis island.

bingo .. you stole my reply .. :)
A world heritage site has certain terms and conditions which you need to adher to. VT station has to adher to those or else it might risk losing the heritage status.

Coolguyz

January 11th, 2011, 11:59 AM

Churchgate to get a touch of glass
.

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/3613/12252010112509am.jpg

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_churchgate-to-get-a-touch-of-glass_1485859

Churchgate station is seeing a lot of activity.The roof is extended, platform 3 and 4 is being extended for 15 car rake, tiles are being installed on all the platforms and the facade being change according to above report. u can see the glass and aluminium design panel being installed in the circle and rods potruding out of the building are for that purporse
http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4605/img0456r.jpg (http://img171.imageshack.us/i/img0456r.jpg/)

Sridhar

January 11th, 2011, 07:39 PM

Churchgate station a world heritage building??? I can think of the Western Railways headquarters, that is across the street from the station as a heritage building. But the station itself is a 1950s CPWD-style drab structure. I think they are referring to the WR headquarters.

muthu raj

January 11th, 2011, 11:02 PM

Hi,

1) I need to know is all the rakes of MUTP 1 Delivered ?

2) What is the Bidding status for Next set of rakes in MUTP 2 ?

rathibent

January 12th, 2011, 06:22 AM

^^ replying to 1st q...total 131 trains under mutp 1...105 have already reached...26 remaining...all of which will reach by march...WR gets the maxm of close to 80 trains out of 131......remaining going to CR.....

fuwad

January 13th, 2011, 08:21 AM

Coming soon: A 10 meal at railway stns

Roana Maria Costa | TNN 12-01-2011

Mumbai: By the end of this month, Mumbai may not only get its first Jan Ahaar—lowpriced eating cafeteria—but a second one as well. Both CR and WR are working hard to open these yellow and green economic joints at CST and Mumbai Central, respectively.

While CR officials are noncommittal as to when their outlet will open its doors saying “it may open any day now and hopefully before the monthend,” WR sources said they are targeting a January 26 inaugural. CR is currently debating whether the food items would be cooked or outsourced.

Divisional railway manager (DRM), CR, M C Chauhan, told TOI of the need for economical food at CST. The cafeterias will offer a plate of ‘Janta Khana’ comprising seven puris and baji at Rs 10. The same item (though of lesser quantity) will be priced at Rs 25 at the ‘Refresh’ counters of CST.

Similarly, a 50-gram vegetable samosa at Jan Ahaar would be priced at Rs 5 while a 40-gm veg samosa at Refresh is Rs 6.

“CR carried out infrastructural changes to the space which used to be a refreshment room; it will be operated by the IRCTC till the time departmental catering along with staff is handed over to railways.”

The eatery at CST is at two levels—the takeaway counter (45 square metres) is on the ground floor. On WR, the much delayed eatery will be spread over an area of 400 square metres.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=pastissues2&BaseHref=TOIM/2011/01/12&PageLabel=6&EntityId=Ar00605&ViewMode=HTML&GZ=T

Bombay2Calcutta

January 13th, 2011, 11:13 PM

DNA (http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_mumbai-railway-indicators-to-go-tri-lingual_1493829)
Mumbai railway indicators to go tri-lingual

Digital indicators at suburban stations will go Marathi and Hindi over the next few months.

The Central Railway on Wednesday finally placed orders to install tri-lingual digital indicators at all the suburban stations, foot over-bridges and concourses.

A senior railway official said that the work will be undertaken at a cost of Rs55.8 lakh.

“The decision has been taken keeping with the policy of Indian Railways on three-language formula in government offices and public utilities. CR is also updating its indicators to sync with the technology.

Indicators at stations have only been in English as it was convenient to display station abbreviations. With the railways now discarding abbreviations in English and retaining only station names at indicators, there will not be any question of translating station abbreviations into other languages.

“The three-language formula of English, Hindi and Marathi has already been implemented in indicators inside the new trains and in station announcements. The latest decision will help all commuters,” he said.

Western Railway officials said they do not have any immediate plan to changeover, but will be doing so in the future.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 14th, 2011, 04:34 AM

15-car rakes on CR are a distant dream for commuters

Roana Maria Costa TNN

Mumbai: The Central Railway (CR) may get 15-car trains on its mainline under the third phase of the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP-III). The Harbour line extension from Panvel to Karjat is another proposal in the project. MUTP-III is expected to start in the next four years.
Even as Western Railway (WR) introduced its first 15-car rake under MUTP-I in 2009 between Dadar and Virar stations, CR has consistently maintained that they would like to concentrate on converting all nine-car trains into 12-car ones first.
The project has now made its way to the proposed projects under the MUTP-III of the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC), the coordinating body between the railways and other concerned agencies; also responsible for getting the new trains into the city.
MRVC officials said that they have proposed the project under MUTP-III. “You cannot run 15-car rakes on CR. Some
preliminary work may start in phase two only,” said the official.
CR deputy general manager Vinit Kumar said that running 15-car trains on the mainline is only a concept right now.
“It’s a proposal by MRVC. We are open to the idea but right now looking at increasing coaches from 9 to 12. We would have to look at dispersal of crowds inside and outside the station area. A lot of examination is required,” he said.
Other proposed projects under MUTP-II are running of 12-car coach trains on Harbour line, station improvement, entry and dispersal arrangements at all suburban stations, implementation of communication based train control (CBTC) for achieving two minutes headway, new suburban line on the Virar-Vasai-Diva-Panvel section, fifth and sixth lines between Borivli and Virar, third and fourth lines between Dahanu Virar, extension of Harbour Line from Goregaon to Borivli,

MeMumbaikar

January 15th, 2011, 03:58 PM

cc scientist for better cell technology

churchgate station

http://img573.imageshack.us/img573/1826/53156437671f99fe0cb2b1.jpg

bhargavsura

January 16th, 2011, 01:15 AM

Is that a new roof or something?

southernman

January 16th, 2011, 08:48 PM

At Least some Natural Light is Coming now.

bharatiya

January 16th, 2011, 10:39 PM

better cover that before monsoons...

gentem

January 17th, 2011, 08:02 AM

At Least some Natural Light is Coming now.

eco buildings are the in thing. :cheers:

Bombay2Calcutta

January 17th, 2011, 08:08 AM

Commute on central line to get faster
Hindustan Times (http://www.hindustantimes.com/Commute-on-central-line-to-get-faster/Article1-651340.aspx#)
Mumbai, January 17, 2011First Published: 02:09 IST(17/1/2011)

The process of making your train commute faster between Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Kalyan has begun. Work on setting up substations, which will supply 25,000 volts of electricity to trains after conversion to alternating current (AC) from 1,500 volts of direct current — between CST and Vidyavihar will begin by April.

The upgraded technology will result in faster commute, power conservation and fewer train delays.

“By 2012, nearly 37 lakh commuters can expect faster commute up to CST as we expect the conversion work to complete,” said AK Singh, Central Railway spokesperson.

After the conversion process is complete on the central line, suburban trains that were restricted to a speed of 80 kmph can run at 100 kmph easily, with an 8% increase in carrying capacity.

The Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation will begin work on installing substations at Chinchpokli and Sion, which are responsible for supplying power to overhead wires by April.

The Central Railway will also begin work of installing substations at Thane and Thakurli, apart from DC-AC conversion.

Simultaneously, the corporation will install switching posts that would act like mini-power supply points at CST, Sandhurst Road, Vidyavihar, Dadar and Parel. All these equipment would ensure faster commute between CST and Kalyan after the conversion process is complete.

These supply channels are important for providing uninterrupted power supply to trains once the conversion process from 1500-volt DC to 25000-volt AC is complete. On January 12, MRVC had a meeting where details were discussed.

“We expect to complete work of installing the transformers and other electric equipment necessary for supplying power to trains in the next two years,” said a senior MRVC official, on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media.

KuwarOnline

January 17th, 2011, 08:46 AM

better cover that before monsoons...

I think they are transparent sheets :)

KuwarOnline

January 17th, 2011, 08:49 AM

MeMumbaikar

January 17th, 2011, 12:02 PM

Kuwar jee this was so basic that it should have happened years ago

slow trains can have an average speed of 45 km per hour and fast of 60km per hour.

Once they add lines 5-6 from CST to Kalyan you can run a fast train every 3 minutes at 60km per hour :cheers: an slow every 2 minutes.

So that means Kalyan station to CST in less than an hour :cheers:

Beyond having that frequency and speed nothing else can be done. thats the very max.

You can increase speed by skipping more stations.

Like say thane to dadar direct or Ghatkopar to cst direct with trains travelling at 80km per hour.

Might be wise to have direct services from a junction like Kurla to cst . With Navi mumbai crowd and others as well.

KuwarOnline

January 17th, 2011, 03:11 PM

^^ at least they woke-up now :)

devendra1

January 17th, 2011, 10:07 PM

what took them so many years to start. Right from 2007 we are hearing that new trains are going to arrive. They should have started it then itself ?

Coolguyz

January 18th, 2011, 05:02 AM

what took them so many years to start. Right from 2007 we are hearing that new trains are going to arrive. They should have started it then itself ?

WR has almost complete its AC to DC transformation.Dont know why CR didnt do it.

fuwad

January 18th, 2011, 05:42 AM

Soon,watch TV on CR trains

Prafulla Marpakwar TNN 18-01-2011

Mumbai: Commuters on the Central Railway can look forward to some entertainment while travelling as the authorities plan to install television sets on all its local trains.

Before January 31,we will install LCD TV sets on a few locals on an experimental basis.Shortly,the facility will be extended to the entire suburban network, CR divisional railway manager M C Chavan told TOI.
Two TV sets,each of 22 inches,will be mounted on the two extreme walls of every compartment.Apart from important alerts for passengers,advertisements,snippets on social awareness issues,railway maps,news alerts and important notices will be beamed on the LCD sets, Chavan said.
Later,we will try to offer more programmes to the 37.5 lakh daily commuters, he added.

Besides offering entertainment to passengers,this scheme will be an important source of non-conventional revenue for the railway as a private agency will be entrusted with the entire job of monitoring the sets.The agency,which will bag the contract,will take necessary care for the safety of the equipment and at the same time,it will have to ensure that the programmes did not disturb the passengers during their travel, Chavan added.
The CR also has plans in the pipeline for its long-distance passengers.To help commuters,the CR has proposed to put up LCD display screens at CST.We have proposed to install eight display screens on which class-wise waiting list status will be displayed,besides alert messages, he said.

As the maintenance of both the train TVs and the display screens will be allotted to private organizations,the railway hopes to rake in the moolah.We expect to earn Rs 6 crore to Rs 7 crore from the TVs on the suburban network and Rs 6.38 lakh from the display screens, he said.

gentem

January 18th, 2011, 06:29 AM

WR has almost complete its AC to DC transformation.Dont know why CR didnt do it.

is it DC to AC or other way? :ohno:

Bombay Boy

January 18th, 2011, 07:59 AM

http://www.thecanadianmusicscene.com/jpgfiles/acdcsars.jpg

p2p4

January 18th, 2011, 11:38 AM

http://www.thecanadianmusicscene.com/jpgfiles/acdcsars.jpg

Nice match. One is sleeve-less, the other is 'leg'-less.

MeMumbaikar

January 18th, 2011, 11:47 AM

http://www.thecanadianmusicscene.com/jpgfiles/acdcsars.jpg

I am on a railway to hell.

I'm on the railway to hell

MeMumbaikar

January 18th, 2011, 11:51 AM

WR has almost complete its AC to DC transformation.Dont know why CR didnt do it.

CR also did not add tracks specifically for out of station trains.

and CR still have not added a fast line on the harbour line.

So tells you all ya need to know about CR.

CR took 20 years to add Nahur station.

A fast train reaching CST from Panvel in 50 minutes with a frequency of 5 minutes would have meant a lot more people moving to Navi Mumbai. Probably double the current pop of 2.5 million.

CR fcuked up navi mumbai.

I still say they add a fast line on the harbour line a lot more people will move to navi mumbai

Smooth Indian

January 19th, 2011, 04:00 AM

WR has almost complete its AC to DC transformation.Dont know why CR didnt do it.
well to be honest the only section on WR that was DC was churchgate-virar (59 km). Right now only borivali-virar (around 15 km) has been converted. They really didn't have that big of a task.

On CR the entire CST-Igatpuri(around 140 km) and CST-Pune(192 km) sections were DC. Both of them include a ghat section each which means a whole platoon of DC bankers had to replaced with AC ones. Also the CR is managing 2 suburban sections Mumbai( > 1200 services daily) and Pune (around 30 services daily). So far CR has managed to convert Kalyan-Pune(137 km) and Kalyan-Igatpuri(85 km) to AC. The Vasai-Diva-Panvel section used to be DC but was converted to AC in around 2000-2001.

I think CR has a larger and a more complicated task and not surprisingly is taking a bit longer than WR.

gentem

January 19th, 2011, 05:37 AM

^^ so it is 1500V DC to 25kV AC conversion going on, unlike what coolguyz told :ohno: ac/dc or dc/ac :bash:

WR has almost complete its AC to DC transformation.Dont know why CR didnt do it.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 19th, 2011, 09:35 AM

^^ so it is 1500V DC to 25kV AC conversion going on, unlike what coolguyz told :ohno: ac/dc or dc/ac :bash:

correct

MeMumbaikar

January 19th, 2011, 12:08 PM

^^ so it is 1500V DC to 25kV AC conversion going on, unlike what coolguyz told :ohno: ac/dc or dc/ac :bash:

Dc---AC

Ac/Dc is just the name of the band

MeMumbaikar

January 19th, 2011, 12:10 PM

well to be honest the only section on WR that was DC was churchgate-virar (59 km). Right now only borivali-virar (around 15 km) has been converted. They really didn't have that big of a task.

On CR the entire CST-Igatpuri(around 140 km) and CST-Pune(192 km) sections were DC. Both of them include a ghat section each which means a whole platoon of DC bankers had to replaced with AC ones. Also the CR is managing 2 suburban sections Mumbai( > 1200 services daily) and Pune (around 30 services daily). So far CR has managed to convert Kalyan-Pune(137 km) and Kalyan-Igatpuri(85 km) to AC. The Vasai-Diva-Panvel section used to be DC but was converted to AC in around 2000-2001.

I think CR has a larger and a more complicated task and not surprisingly is taking a bit longer than WR.

they could have atleast done the Kalyan to CSt stretch first considering its heavy commuting right?

Bombay2Calcutta

January 19th, 2011, 06:18 PM

^^ No they cannot do that. If they had taken the CST Kalyan stretch first that it would have created an isolated stretch of DC traction between Kalyan and Igatpuri or Kalyan and Pune .

MeMumbaikar

January 19th, 2011, 06:26 PM

^^ No they cannot do that. If they had taken the CST Kalyan stretch first that it would have created an isolated stretch of DC traction between Kalyan and Igatpuri or Kalyan and Pune .

hmm so just a general question

what if they do convert kalyan to cst into AC

and then make kalyan this mega junction. and instead of direct services from cst to pune and kasara to Cst

so commute from pune to cst becomes pune to kalyan and kalyan to cst.

Secondly, i am a novice in this so asking.What about out of station trains.?

Cause to me atleast considering the kalyan-cst route is heavily commuted, maybe its better if they do it first?

again i am just asking, not an expert.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 19th, 2011, 07:17 PM

Smooth Indian

January 19th, 2011, 07:22 PM

hmm so just a general question

what if they do convert kalyan to cst into AC

and then make kalyan this mega junction. and instead of direct services from cst to pune and kasara to Cst

so commute from pune to cst becomes pune to kalyan and kalyan to cst.

Secondly, i am a novice in this so asking.What about out of station trains.?

Cause to me atleast considering the kalyan-cst route is heavily commuted, maybe its better if they do it first?

again i am just asking, not an expert.

Then people commuting from pune would simply take the bus/car/taxi. Direct services are always preferred. We are already seeing that. Trips between between Mumbai and cities like Pune, Nashik, Ahmedabad have increased to a great extent. However the number of trains serving these destinations from mumbai has not really been increased proportionately. Hence there is an explosion in the no. of ppl taking private buses, shivneri buses, private taxis, even plane (Mum-Ahmd sector).

Your suggestion would make sense if you are travelling from far off places in Maharashtra or from outside Maharashtra where journey times take atleast 8-10 hrs.

Smooth Indian

January 19th, 2011, 07:34 PM

they could have atleast done the Kalyan to CSt stretch first considering its heavy commuting right?

Well the railways didn't want to create a disruption in suburban services. Converting the suburban section means to convert all 100 odd rakes to AC or AC-DC dual mode. That is going to take time. Also it made sense starting from igatpuri since beyond igatpuri the traction is AC. This way they could divert all the dual voltage WCAM3 locos to the igatpuri line while the pune line had to make do with the DC WCG2s and even diesel locos. It is also easier to test the newly converted sections and iron out the any technical issues in the less busier sections.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 19th, 2011, 07:40 PM

Better announcement systems on local trains

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times (http://www.hindustantimes.com/Better-announcement-systems-on-local-trains/Article1-652090.aspx)
Mumbai, January 19, 2011 In a bid to eliminate the complaints made by the commuters on the faulty working of announcement systems and GPS-based screens, the research and design wing of the Indian Railways has planned an enhanced version of such devices for local trains. According to the proposal prepared by the Research, Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO), local trains will have devices similar to those present in Delhi Metro trains. These include an improved GPS-based passenger information system that gives information on stations expected to come next.

“We are consulting companies involved in designing and developing these devices,” said SK Srivastava, director, RDSO.

The GPS systems being used currently are faulty wherein names of stations are announced after the train departs from the platform. “These devices will improve the delay on the display boards and announcement systems,” said a railway official.

There is also a proposal to install LED-based screens inside the trains similar to those in BEST buses. “These LED screens will display advertisements,” said a CR official. This will be on an experiment basis and CR expects to earn around Rs 6 crore through advertisements.

bhargavsura

January 19th, 2011, 11:41 PM

Dc---AC

Ac/Dc is just the name of the band

Lol. You got that one right.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 20th, 2011, 03:13 AM

ROOM FOR 9 LAKH MORE IN CR
12-Coach Services Increased By 55% Last Year
Roana Maria Costa | TNN

Central Railway (CR) operated more 12-car coaches over the last one year, which increased its passenger carrying capacity by a maximum of nine lakh every day.
Capacity on the Transharbour line increased the most, by 52.8%, while on the Mainline it was up 8.8% and rose 5.4% on the Harbour line last year. In December alone, the CR suburban line carried 11.91 crore commuters, or around 38.4 lakh passengers per day.
Data from the Performance of Mumbai Division 2010-11—Improvement In Suburban Services report says 12-car services were up 54.98 % from 522 to 809,
while the number of 12-car rakes increased from 49 to 68. CR ran a total of 16,350 coaches daily as of December 21, 2010, up from 14,292 coaches daily as on December 1, 2009. During peak hours, commuter density per compartment is around 450, with 226 being the average.
One 12-car rake was introduced in 1986 with two services; in 1993 the number of services grew to 10, picking up pace over the last decade.
Divisional railway manager, Mumbai division, M C Chauhan said things will get better in 2011. “By December all mainline services will be 12-coach. Now all 206 fast trains are 12-car while 475 out of the 579 slow services are 12-car ones,” he said. “Carrying capacity will increase by a maximum of 91,000, rakes which CR retrofits and gets from WR will also be used to increase services,” he said.
There are 785 mainline services daily. All the 208 Transharbour services will also become 12-car ones, implying a capacity increase of 33% per train.
The fifth and sixth lines between Thane and Kurla are in the last phase of completion this month, CR expects the safety clearances in February. The new lines would increase punctuality as long-distance trains would have a dedicated path. “Services will also increase by a conservative estimative of around 10,” he said.
However, CR will not get any new Siemens rakes for the next two years. It will retrofit 10 of its old rakes by June. When WR converts its entire suburban section from DC to AC power by June, the Andheri-Bandra-CST and Andheri-Panvel Harbour line trains will be the new Siemens ones. The exercise will need 14 trains—12 will be from WR while the remaining two will be retrofitted. CR will get another 15 old 12-car rakes from WR by June. Five have already come in.
The train management system (TMS) would be commissioned by March. It monitors trains on a realtime basis and is connected to the public announcement system and the indicators.
The Thane yard remodelling will be complete by June, doing away with the double halt for long-distance trains. The speed of trains coming to platform one will increase from 10 kmph to 30 kmph, and at platform 7 will go up from 10 kmph to 25kmph, allowing more trains to come to the platform.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOIM/2011/01/20/5/Img/Pc0051200.jpg
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOIM/2011/01/20/5/Img/Pc0051500.jpg

MeMumbaikar

January 20th, 2011, 07:35 PM

Bombay2Calcutta

January 20th, 2011, 08:52 PM

thanks for the detailed replies boys. I have learnt something new.

I guess CR does have its work cut out

One final question.

have they already converted the lines from kalyan to igatpuri

and Kalyan to pune?

which would mean Kalyan CST is the only stretch remaining?

They also have a plan to add lines 5-6 on the eastern side from Kalyan to CST.

Is it possible to run the suburban section on AC while run the line 5-6 for dedicated out of station traffic on DC?

Just asking and i dont know much

1.Kalyan to Igatpuri and Kalyan to Pune has been converted to AC.
In addition to this the Harbour line between CST to Panvel and CST to Andheri needs to converted to AC.
The trans harbour line between Thane to Panvel will also need to be converted to AC.
Everything needs to be completed before 2012.

Ref the article http://www.indianexpress.com/news/DC-to-AC--Harbour-line-to-make-switch-for-better-connectivity/730391

2. 5 and 6 line between Kalyan and CST are in various stages of development
a. Kalyan to Diva - (As per RVNL -It is completed)
b. Diva to Thane - It is on the drawing board . Part of MUTP-2
c. Kurla to Thane - Nearing completion - Should be completed by March.
d. Kurla to CST - Part of MUTP 2
3. The 5th and 6th line after completion will be used by long distance trains.
1st and 2nd line will be used by slow local trains.
3rd and 4th line will be used by fast local trains.

MeMumbaikar

January 20th, 2011, 09:50 PM

Bombay2Calcutta

January 20th, 2011, 09:52 PM

lol sorry if i am asking too many questions

but what sort of frequency do you think dedicated fast and slow tracks give?

a train every 3 minutes fast and slow?

so 20 slow trains every hour

and 20 fast trains every hour?
A possibility once 5th and 6th lines gets completed. As of now there is a train every 3 mins during peak hours on the slow track.

devendra1

January 20th, 2011, 11:32 PM

^^ No they cannot do that. If they had taken the CST Kalyan stretch first that it would have created an isolated stretch of DC traction between Kalyan and Igatpuri or Kalyan and Pune .

Sorry I am unable to understand it. Now even with AC conversion done between Pune-Kalyan there is still an isolated DC traction between Kalyan-CST so what difference it made ?

Since the new locals were meant for Mumbai only they should have converted Kalyan CST first considering the freq. of local trains w.r.t. out-station trains. The electric engines between Pune-CST were running on DC before AC conversion was done. So should have still worked. At least among several lines some of the lines between Kalyan and CST should have got converted to AC

Bombay Boy

January 20th, 2011, 11:35 PM

might have been easier logistically and in terms of train blocks to do pune kalyan first

Bombay2Calcutta

January 20th, 2011, 11:41 PM

Sorry I am unable to understand it. Now even with AC conversion done between Pune-Kalyan there is still an isolated DC traction between Kalyan-CST so what difference it made ?

Since the new locals were meant for Mumbai only they should have converted Kalyan CST first considering the freq. of local trains w.r.t. out-station trains. The electric engines between Pune-CST were running on DC before AC conversion was done. So should have still worked. At least among several lines some of the lines between Kalyan and CST should have got converted to AC

The isolated section would have been between Kalyan and Igatpuri or Kalyan and Pune if the DC to AC conversion had started from CST side .
The Mumbai suburban area was already a big isolated DC section as the rest of India is already AC. So did make sense to start the conversion from Igatpuri and Pune side . Have we started from CST side then scenario would have been

Beyond Igatpuri /Pune - AC
Kalyan to Igatpuri/Pune -DC
Kalyan to CST - AC

Also the section between Kalyan and CST is a very dense and high traffic section , so conversion will have to be taken up in phases.

MeMumbaikar

January 20th, 2011, 11:49 PM

A possibility once 5th and 6th lines gets completed. As of now there is a train every 3 mins during peak hours on the slow track.

I am not too concerned about the slow.

They do have good frequency

its the fast trains which need ramping up.

As things stand there are huge gaps in the frequency of fast trains on CR

Its like for eg.

7:20 7:24 7:45 7:47:750 7:52

bharatiya

January 21st, 2011, 12:28 AM

I remember waiting one time at Dadar for a northbound train to Ghatkopar on the fast track. Had to wait about 15 minutes that too in monsoons. By the time train was coming the platform was so packed that crowd was taking up space for both our track and the track opposite.

Not only frequency but even coach alignment needs to be changed. Maybe at least for the slow trains (leaving fast trains as "long distance") they need to set up the inside with seats on the side, so there is more standing room and therefore more capacity.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 21st, 2011, 02:00 AM

^^ But why did you wait for 15 min on Platform no 4 and just for Ghatkoper ? You could have catch any local (except C) from platform no 1 no ? In 15 mins you would have reached Ghatkoper. ....

don't worry kidding man ..:lol:

bharatiya

January 21st, 2011, 02:30 AM

lol... fair point i just expected that as soon as i left the platform the train would come. as is usually my luck :D

WinCPP

January 21st, 2011, 11:47 AM

Sorry I am unable to understand it. Now even with AC conversion done between Pune-Kalyan there is still an isolated DC traction between Kalyan-CST so what difference it made ?

I guess this also has got to do with the number of services plying within CST - Kalyan stretch compared with those going beyond Kalyan. The more the number of services, the more number of dual AC/DC local trains would be required. So if CST-Kalyan were to be done first, almost all local trains would have to be converted to dual technology. Getting such trains, not being an overnight job, is itself a limiting factor. So the entire project would have had to be delayed till then.

Since the new locals were meant for Mumbai only they should have converted Kalyan CST first considering the freq. of local trains w.r.t. out-station trains. The electric engines between Pune-CST were running on DC before AC conversion was done. So should have still worked.
Assuming that CST-Kalyan was done first, it would have resulted into fragmented AC-DC sections. CST-Kalyan on AC, then Kalyan to Pune/Igatpuri on DC and then rest of India again on AC.
All Mumbai Pune electric engines would not have worked (WCM-only DC), which were also being replaced slowly by WCAM (AC DC dual locomotives).

At least among several lines some of the lines between Kalyan and CST should have got converted to AC
This is completely impossible, if this meant having just track 1 and 2 on AC and 3 and 4 on DC. We all are quite familiar of 'last second change in platforms' for the arriving / departing train. It would have deprived CR / WR of the enjoyment that they get now. Kidding. Factually, it would have isolated the tracks, required duplication of OHE (? eeks), switching slow track trains to fast and vice versa in case of any eventuality, ... hope these few explain it all ...

anujkb

January 21st, 2011, 07:24 PM

arey yar so much confusion of AC DC, its so simple, il explain

yes ACDC is a band :D

mumbai area:: till 2005: churcgate-virar, cst-pune, cst-kasara, cst-panvel, Kjt-khopoli: DC

prgress of DC to AC:

1. 3rd and 4th lines betwn VR and BSR ACfied right from beginning. so now traffic from delhi can go to JNPT without any interruptions
2. Neutral zone (NZ) shifted from Kasara to just after titwala
3. from titwala to just after kalyan
4. pune-lonavala made AC after tarnsferring 4 AC rakes for PUNE-LNL locals
5. NZ shifted to ambarnath
6. 3rd and 4th lines VR-borivali made complete AC
7. all 4 lines from VR-BVI made complete AC.
8. NZ on CR shifted to km 55/12 or something (dont know exact figure), ex CST. this is a kilometre ahead of KYN stn, in both directions-KSRA and KJT.
9. new thane-kurla 5th 6th lines are ACfied. so is KYN pf 6. also entire KYN Electric loco shed made AC.

what this means:
1. all virar/bhayandar/vasai road locals are AC-DC (either 9xx series (913 onwards) or MRVC rakes).
2. all locals from CST going anywhere beyond KYN are AC-DC.

present progress:
1. mahalaxmi AC substation is complete. so is khar road substation and one more, on WR
2. work just started on Thakurli substation. itll take a long time.

what next:

remember, before everything is made AC, we need the SUPPLY :D and this supply isnt the same which we get for DC. everything needs to be changed.
thats why it takes time....

1. entire WR from CCG to VR will be ACfied by august this year. expect outstation trains to be faster by as much as 8 mins betwn BVI and BCT(mumbai central)
2. entire WR doesnt include harbour line section betwn mahim and adh. problems occur for Harbour rail crossings at south of andheri, north of santacruz and at mahim. At present CR doesnt have enough AC DC rakes to make its entire fleet of CSTM-ADH harbour service ACfied. so it is a hanging question whether WR will develop so many neutral zones at the crossings, or wait till CR brings in more rakes, which will take a hell lot of time, maybe atleast november. upon latter's completion, NZ will be brought to Raoli Jn of harbour line.
3. For CR, they can make TNA-KYN via parsik tunnel ACfied, and the slow lines via mumbra-kalwa remain DC. But they dont do so because-
mumbra is sensitive region and if there is repairs work then trains are diverted to Kalyan via parsik tunnel route, also during waterlogging. this wont be possible if the rakes are DC and parsik is ACfied. moreover, the no of rakes are less with CR. Also, thakurli AC substn work is just started.

So they are starting to dig parsik 2 parallel lines to existing ones... and make them AC.

anujkb

January 21st, 2011, 07:27 PM

pune- kalyan ACfication made a difference because trains like Ahimsa exp, pune-indore, pune-bhuj, gandhidham-bangalore, yesvantpur-ajmer, pune duranto can Run on WAP series locomotives THRUOUT, and stoppage timing at vadodara for need of change of loco is not required.

SSCaddict

January 21st, 2011, 07:29 PM

^^ just a simple question that according to you when will everything become AC?

Bombay2Calcutta

January 21st, 2011, 07:34 PM

^^ 2012

SSCaddict

January 21st, 2011, 07:36 PM

thanks :cheers:

Bombay2Calcutta

January 21st, 2011, 08:02 PM

Source (http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_double-halts-may-return-to-haunt-mumbai-railway-commuters_1497178)
Double halts may return to haunt Mumbai railway commuters

With the railways gearing up to run 15-car trains, touted to be world’s longest, on the suburban network, double halts at stations could return to haunt the city’s rail commuters.

A double halt is a train stopping twice at the station due to platforms falling short for longer trains. When the 12-car trains were first introduced 20 years ago, the railways had taken time to upgrade the infrastructure and trains used to stop twice at certain stations. In fact, trains used to stop twice at Masjid Bunder even a year ago.

While the Western Railway is running a 15-car train and plans to extend it to Churchgate by January, the Central Railway has asked the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation to conduct a study for running 15-car trains.

WR officials said they were upgrading the system and that they would stop the train only at those stations where infrastructure was adequate.

CR officials said that they would run 15-car train only after they complete converting 9-cars to 12-cars and after they improve the infrastructure.

“The 15-car train that will run from Churchgate will stop at select stations and there is enough space to increase the length of platforms of these stations,” an official said. He said that double halts for a train almost doubled the stoppage timings, affecting the entire schedule.

Commuters are enthusiastic though. “I do not think the railways should introduce such long trains before upgrading the infrastructure,” Yogesh Joshi, who travels daily on the western line, said.

shanware

January 21st, 2011, 08:56 PM

Commuters are enthusiastic though. “I do not think the railways should introduce such long trains before upgrading the infrastructure,” Yogesh Joshi, who travels daily on the western line, said.

Very enthusiastic indeed ! :)

devendra1

January 21st, 2011, 11:11 PM

The isolated section would have been between Kalyan ....
Thanks

devendra1

January 21st, 2011, 11:12 PM

I guess this also has got to do with the number of services plying within CST - Kalyan stretch compared with those going beyond Kalyan....
Thanks Now I understood in a better way.

Suncity

January 22nd, 2011, 03:26 PM

TVs on local trains - pics

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/New-Mumbai-trains-with-LCD-TVs/articleshowpics/7317538.cms

monyaam

January 22nd, 2011, 03:56 PM

I wonder how many ppl are going to miss their station.

sgups

January 22nd, 2011, 10:19 PM

lol...of the 1000 people in every coach, maybe only 2-3 will catch a glimpse of the TV..what a waste of rupees

MeMumbaikar

January 22nd, 2011, 10:30 PM

lol...of the 1000 people in every coach, maybe only 2-3 will catch a glimpse of the TV..what a waste of rupees

i think the idea is that advertisers and channels will pay Ir money for them,

they might be a revenue generator.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 22nd, 2011, 10:31 PM

2 Zonal EMUs at one place and the titles you can think of!!
You may call it as "WR EMU vs CR EMU", "ACDC vs DC EMU", "Old vs New", "ICF vs Jessop EMU" and what not !! But for us, basically, its a union of 2 zones at one place. Seen here is MRVC ACDC EMU of WR 2117-2120 and Jessop DC EMU # 352-350 of CR ar Andheri stn of WR. (CC Vijay Aravamudhan)

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/7499/mainphpg2viewcoreig.jpg

sammyk

January 23rd, 2011, 06:14 AM

What a great shot.

Compared to the old, the new one looks far advanced despite being decades behind itself.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 23rd, 2011, 08:59 AM

Source (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/now-marathi-indicators-at-mumbai-stations/141227-3.html)
Now, Marathi indicators at Mumbai stations
mid-day Mid-Day.com

Mumbai: What is it that the city's railway stations are missing?

On the list of things that pops up in your mind, do platform indicators in Marathi figure at all? Well, whether they do or not, you can leave it to the Shiv Sena to rectify the omission.

The champion of the Marathi cause duly brought the neglect to the notice of Central Railway authorities in their trademark style.

Now, Marathi indicators at Mumbai stations

Earlier this week, Sena leader Anil Desai met the railway's General Manager, Kul Bhushan, and told him that the railways should display train information on the digital indicators, hanging overhead at stations, in Marathi as well. He added that if the CR doesn't comply, the saffron party would deal with it their way.

Expectedly, the authorities yielded to the demands of the party.

According to sources in the railway, approval for putting up the Marathi indicators at all major railway stations between CST and Kalyan has been granted.

The authorities have allowed for the indicators to be put up at 19 stations in the first phase. The second will be sanctioned after getting feedback from passengers.

Tenders for the same have already been processed and the language indicators should be there for your guidance in a month's time.

They would cost around Rs 94 lakh. Currently, the display boards assert train information in English and Hindi.

Vineet Kumar, deputy general manager, CR, said, "The work is in progress for putting the indicators in Marathi. Initially we will install them on the major stations between CST and Kalyan. The tender has already been floated."

However, the new display will not seem all that different from the ones in Hindi, as the two languages share the same script, Devanagri.

Desai said, "The railways do not display station names in Marathi. As it is the state language, they need to do it. They have agreed to do it from this point onwards."

About the similarity in the script, he said, "The script is the same but it is evident that the words are not Marathi. But now every station's name would be in Marathi."

Pointing out a plus for the new indicators, he added, "People from outside the state will not find it difficult to read the Marathi signs as the script is the same as Hindis."

Rs 94 lakh: The cost to make the indicators display information in Marathi

siddharthp

January 23rd, 2011, 09:40 AM

TVs on local trains - pics

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/New-Mumbai-trains-with-LCD-TVs/articleshowpics/7317538.cms

That photo is such a strange mix of old and new. Only in India! :lol:

p2p4

January 23rd, 2011, 12:00 PM

WTF ! We share the same script "DEVNAGRI"
and most names of towns do not have so much of a change !

Source (http://ibnlive.in.com/news/now-marathi-indicators-at-mumbai-stations/141227-3.html)
Now, Marathi indicators at Mumbai stations
mid-day Mid-Day.com

Mumbai: What is it that the city's railway stations are missing?

On the list of things that pops up in your mind, do platform indicators in Marathi figure at all? Well, whether they do or not, you can leave it to the Shiv Sena to rectify the omission.

The champion of the Marathi cause duly brought the neglect to the notice of Central Railway authorities in their trademark style.

Now, Marathi indicators at Mumbai stations

Earlier this week, Sena leader Anil Desai met the railway's General Manager, Kul Bhushan, and told him that the railways should display train information on the digital indicators, hanging overhead at stations, in Marathi as well. He added that if the CR doesn't comply, the saffron party would deal with it their way.

Expectedly, the authorities yielded to the demands of the party.

According to sources in the railway, approval for putting up the Marathi indicators at all major railway stations between CST and Kalyan has been granted.

The authorities have allowed for the indicators to be put up at 19 stations in the first phase. The second will be sanctioned after getting feedback from passengers.

Tenders for the same have already been processed and the language indicators should be there for your guidance in a month's time.

They would cost around Rs 94 lakh. Currently, the display boards assert train information in English and Hindi.

Vineet Kumar, deputy general manager, CR, said, "The work is in progress for putting the indicators in Marathi. Initially we will install them on the major stations between CST and Kalyan. The tender has already been floated."

However, the new display will not seem all that different from the ones in Hindi, as the two languages share the same script, Devanagri.

Desai said, "The railways do not display station names in Marathi. As it is the state language, they need to do it. They have agreed to do it from this point onwards."

About the similarity in the script, he said, "The script is the same but it is evident that the words are not Marathi. But now every station's name would be in Marathi."

Pointing out a plus for the new indicators, he added, "People from outside the state will not find it difficult to read the Marathi signs as the script is the same as Hindis."

Rs 94 lakh: The cost to make the indicators display information in Marathi

MeMumbaikar

January 23rd, 2011, 04:19 PM

^
its only a few stations

especially to do with "li" and "ne"

examples Thane---

ठाणे instead of the hindi word. the last character in the word Thane and its particular sound is not present in Hindi.

while Worli too its pronounced way different in Marathi, the english translation in spoken marathi would be Varali

http://marathi.tripod.com/alpha7.gif

and use the fourth character from the right and instead of the "li" as directly translated to hindi.

http://marathi.tripod.com/alpha4.gif

its mostly a these two characters and sound which are missing from Hindi language. Rest everything matches.

Like say Dadar Ghatkopar Mulund Andheri Colaba eg would be the same

Stations ending with a "ne" and a "li" would be the one's affected.

for eg Thane Koparkhairne Airoli Borivali Khopoli

Yagya

January 23rd, 2011, 06:23 PM

huh? ण is present in Hindi. Example is: गणतन्त्र , जनगणना...

Bombay Boy

January 23rd, 2011, 07:26 PM

ळ is the only difference in the alphabet

though in marathi ण is sometimes used instead of न, like in thane

Yagya

January 23rd, 2011, 07:32 PM

^^

I also noticed that they use झ where in hindi a ज़ would be used. I think it was Santa Cruz.

Abhishek901

January 23rd, 2011, 07:55 PM

^^ And Seepz too.

MeMumbaikar

January 23rd, 2011, 08:29 PM

yeah my mistake

that it indeed the case

rather than letter its the pronounciation of the word in marathi

in any case those are the stations highlighted. About 10-12 of them.

I dont understand how the hell it takes 94lakhs to do.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 23rd, 2011, 09:02 PM

(L-R) Millenium EMU and an MRVC rake captured together at Vasai Road. (Akshay Marathe)

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/7126/mainphpg2viewcorevt.jpg

Bombay2Calcutta

January 24th, 2011, 03:17 AM

WR plan to book tickets from mobile phones hits a snag
Roana Maria Costa TNN

Mumbai: The ambitious technology driven project which was aimed to allow suburban commuters to buy tickets on their mobile phones may not see the light of day. Western Railway officials said the cost of availing this scheme is much higher than the ticket itself.
The transaction would cost between Rs 10 and 12 per ticket, which would be uniform and applicable even for a minimum ticket of Rs 4. “The project has not been officially scrapped but the initiative has to be accepted by mobile companies and banks. The model needs to be reworked as interbank charges are very high,” said chief PRO, WR, Sharat Chandrayan.
Over three percent of card tickets per day are bought through ATVMS and four percent through CVMs. “We are concentrating on CVMS and ATVMs as we have seen a growth of 25-30 % in the last year,” he said. However, there are constant complaints from commuters about the machines being out of order. On Saturday both the CVM and the ATVM at Lower Parel were not functional.
The mobile ticketing scheme would help local train commuters to avoid waiting in serpentine queues by buying their tickets before reaching the station. It was to be introduced on WR and materialize in the early part of 2009.
One of the problems with the pilot project was that the initial settings were compatible only with mobile users who had GPRS, said WR officials. Another roadblock was that the commuter could send the text message anytime after entering the station which he could misuse by choosing the least expensive fare. With ticket checking during peak hours being difficult, the chances of such a commuter going unnoticed was high.
Then there were talks of a six digit number at the booking office which would be displayed on a digital screen and keep changing from time to time. The commuter would have to enter this number and his destination to book a ticket before he enters the station. WR is now working on a scheme where mail/ express tickets can be bought through mobile phones.
Meanwhile, the rapid pace at which technology has been growing has killed yet another project—having cyber cafes at major stations. Chandrayan said the cyber cafe at Mumbai Central station was shut down as there were not enough patrons.

MeMumbaikar

January 24th, 2011, 04:24 AM

dont know why they chose white of all colours

its already starting to look shit

any materials engineers to explain? White colour keeps the train cooler?

sammyk

January 24th, 2011, 04:58 AM

dont know why they chose white of all colours

its already starting to look shit

any materials engineers to explain? White colour keeps the train cooler?

Don't know if that's the reason they chose white but yes, it can keep it cooler. This is also the reason many airlines use white as their base color.

nirax

January 24th, 2011, 01:14 PM

nirax

January 24th, 2011, 01:21 PM

TVs on local trains - pics

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/New-Mumbai-trains-with-LCD-TVs/articleshowpics/7317538.cms

very bad move i feel ... ek to pehle se hi itna shor hota tha ... ab to jaan hi nikal lenge ...

nirax

January 24th, 2011, 01:24 PM

ळ is the only difference in the alphabet

though in marathi ण is sometimes used instead of न, like in thane

correct ... i still cannot manage ळ even though i stayed many years in Mumbai

buddy_rohan

January 24th, 2011, 09:35 PM

^

Stations ending with a "ne" and a "li" would be the one's affected.

for eg Thane Koparkhairne Airoli Borivali Khopoli

dont forget those stations which have a different name in marathi altogether - our very own Vaandre (Bandra), sheev (sion, though in hindi too).

Bombay2Calcutta

January 25th, 2011, 03:03 AM

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HM/2011/01/25/Article//004/25_01_2011_004_002.jpg

Bombay2Calcutta

January 25th, 2011, 03:04 AM

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HM/2011/01/25/Article//006/25_01_2011_006_015.jpg

Bombay2Calcutta

January 25th, 2011, 03:09 AM

Jan 26 debut for 15-car trains at Churchgate

Virar-Dadar Service Now Till Terminus

Roana Maria Costa TNN

Mumbai: The much touted 15-car train of the Western Railway (WR) will make its debut at Churchgate on Wednesday,Republic Day.
The local train,which can accommodate 6,000 people during rush hour,had been on trial run between Dadar and Virar with halts at Bandra,Andheri and Borivli,and all stations between Borivli and Virar except Naigaon and Dahisar.On January 26,the service will be extended to WRs southern terminus.After two-day tests,the service will be regularised on Friday.
As with Dadar-Virar,there will be 12 Churchgate-Virar services daily by one train.But within the year,the number of trains would be increased to three,with the number of services going up to 50.
Before the end of 2011,we would have augmented two 12-car trains to 15-car ones, a WR official said.This would add 38 services to the existing 12.
He said the work to extend platforms three and four at Churchgate is almost complete.The realigning of the tracks is over.Surfacing of the platforms will be finished in a few days,whereupon amenities would be introduced.
The schedule of the 15-car train will be revised as well,since travel time would increase by 15 to 20 minutes per trip.Also,with the furthering of the destination,the efficiency of the trains utilization will go up by 20%.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/TOIM/2011/01/25/5/Img/Pc0051500.jpg

p2p4

January 25th, 2011, 05:22 AM

correct ... i still cannot manage ळ even though i stayed many years in Mumbai

Try saying "American" in the typical TEXAN tongue roll and you will get the JILEBI out of the ळ

Coolguyz

January 25th, 2011, 12:10 PM

Churchgate station main building is gonna look awesome when the whole exercise of cladding is complete, work is going on fast. All the ugly wiring hangings are covered
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/4448/img0528mj.jpg (http://img443.imageshack.us/i/img0528mj.jpg/) Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/9520/img0531w.jpg (http://img262.imageshack.us/i/img0531w.jpg/) Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/7011/img0543p.jpg (http://img822.imageshack.us/i/img0543p.jpg/) Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img830.imageshack.us/img830/1099/img0544h.jpg (http://img830.imageshack.us/i/img0544h.jpg/) Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

The new extended platform.On the sides, they are tiles which have pictures depicting the history of Mumbai.
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/1084/img0532be.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/i/img0532be.jpg/) Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

KuwarOnline

January 25th, 2011, 12:37 PM

bharatiya

January 25th, 2011, 06:08 PM

Do at least this much for every station I'll be satisfied.

fuwad

January 25th, 2011, 06:30 PM

Nice pics.....Great updates.........Good that Churchgate is gettic a face lift !

Coolguyz

January 25th, 2011, 08:01 PM

Do at least this much for every station I'll be satisfied.

They have done similar cladding thing to marine line station too, dont know if they are gonna do to every station. but those ugly asbestos sheets on the roofs are being changed to aluminium one on majority of stations,

Bombay2Calcutta

January 25th, 2011, 08:13 PM

Work is going on in Andheri too .... But what is the issue with Bandra ? Read somewhere it is not going as planned. They were in the process of doing some face lift to the heritage structure at Bandra station.

Bombay2Calcutta

January 25th, 2011, 08:17 PM

^^ Here is the Story from TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Brakes-on-at-Bandra/articleshow/7348843.cms)

Brakes on at Bandra
Simit Bhagat, TNN, Jan 23, 2011, 09.41pm IST

MUMBAI: The second phase of the restoration of Bandra railway station, a Grade-1 heritage site, has been stuck due to red tape and a lack of funds for over a year-and-a-half. Heritage experts said that while the first phase was completed successfully, the crucial second phase hasn't gone ahead.

Abha Narain Lambah, who was appointed as consultant for the restoration of the railway station, said, "If we are seriously looking at restoring the station building, then a lot of work remains to be done. We should not make half-hearted attempts towards the job."

Around one year ago, Lambah had requested the Western Railway (WR) administration to disburse additional funds to the tune of Rs 1.5 crore to carry out the next phase and refurbish the entire station building.

"We started the first phase with a miniscule budget of Rs 40 lakh. After its completion around May 2009, I am still waiting to hear from the railway administration about the completion of the remaining work," said Lambah.

At one time, the 19{+t}{+h}-century heritage building had been completely neglected. However, during the first phase of the restoration, the railways attempted to undo some of the damage done earlier. In 1998, the railways had been criticized for replacing the red roof tiles over the platforms with ugly asbestos sheets as a solution against leaking.

In fact, in the first phase of the project completed in 2009, the makeshift wooden partition that had been created in the verandah to accommodate booking offices was removed. "Also, many of the walls of the original basalt stone structure were covered with cement and coats of paint were applied to it. We removed the plaster and exposed the original walls to help regain the lost glory," said Lambah.

The structure was also treated with lime mortar and the roof was recreated with red tiles to give the building an original look. The first phase of the project had cost the railways around Rs 40 lakh.

Heritage experts state that the idea of going ahead with the next phase was to give the station and the platforms a uniform look. Currently, even the flooring is mismatched, because there has not been much thought put into the different types of tiles being used. "We have even planned to redesign the food stalls, fruit juice vendors, platforms and also spruce up the beautiful cast-iron columns. Also, we have to give anti-termite treatment and do electrical upgradation, like taking care of the cables and wires that are at present just hanging," said Lambah.

Sharat Chandrayan, chief public relations officer, WR, said, "The proposal for the second phase has not yet been sent to the railway board in New Delhi for sanction. However, we will soon send it for their approval."