Travelling by Locals – Mumbai Edition

Making a journey in a Mumbai Local is an experience in itself. If you have been to this city and haven't boarded a electric train on any of the three routes that ply through the metropolis, it means you have missed half the fun or half the nightmare, depending on the experience....

Westernised central approach that harbours no ill feeling towards fellow commuters.

The daily commuter first walks, then jogs and finally does the steeple chase run to complete the last lap towards the station. The steeple chase is chosen only when he sees the train pulling into the station. During such occasions, everyone like others, just run across the tracks, then on to the station platform. Maybe the local commuter can qualify himself for long jumps and high jumps. The long jumps come in handy especially during the rainy season.
The Boarding Phenomena

It is all about people management and the looks that you exhibit while boarding which does the trick. Every one has to be aware of the fact that nobody onboard likes to welcome yet another addition to the already woe full compartment with all its characters. One has to look humble but strong enough to show others that he is fit enough to survive the journey.

The Travel

Some prefer footboard travel rather than standing inside the rush, as the wind keeps you fresh if not your groomed hair. But then travelling on the footboard has its pros and cons

Pros

1. Don't have to use the deodorant in excess
2. Don't have to ruffle your hair every minute, if that is your style.
3. Don't have to pick up fights with fellow commuters
4. Less chances that your pockets will be picked.
5. Helps your biceps and shoulders if you are hanging on the footboard.
6. Less chance of the shine on your shoes being messed by someone stamping on them.
7. Do not get infected by freely floating bacteria and viruses inside.
8. Do not have to worry about bench bugs ( appropriately bed bugs)
9. Do not have to worry about escape, if a fire or a fight starts...whichever is earlier.

Cons

1. Corns on your hands by holding tightly on the handle.
2. You might reach a destination that you never intended to.
3. You have to get down at every station and make way for others
4. Chances are that you may not get a chance to board again.
5. A fellow passenger dragging you with him, once he slips.
6. Getting rid of loose papers from your shirt pocket.
7. Cannot use the comb, or you will reach your tomb.

The Landing Phenomena

Getting down from a train is not a big task as compared to the boarding one. But still people have to be wary about how they are positioned while getting down. If you are too near the door, chances are that you will be pushed out before you have time to complain or explain. If you think you can handle the situation being at the end of the lot trying to get down, that is a big mistake. You will, to your surprise discover a crowd of people barging their way in and you might have to abort your landing. Trains like planes, especially the locals do not wait for their passengers to alight or board. They have their own fixed seconds in which everything happens.

“Time and Train do not wait for anyone”.

Let us look at the passengers who alight. 25 percent wade their way across the railway footbridges to the west. 15 percent wade to the east end of the station. Another 20 percent start running for their lives to catch other trains on other platforms. 10 percent just stand and stare not knowing what to do next. 5 percent just loiter around the newspaper stalls and look at magazine covers. 5 percent jump back into the train – the same footboard travellers. Rest of the break up is as shown below

1. People who were forced to get down and could not get back
2. People who had to alight here because they could not get down at the last station.
3. People aborting their journey because they lost their purses midway, lost the wristwatch, lost the will to go to work, or because they got a call on their cell phone from their dear ones to come back.
4. People who decide as to how to escape ticket checkers.
5. People who got on the down train by mistake when they wanted to take the up train.
6. People who were travelling the whole day because boarding a train was cheaper than boarding a hotel.