Mumbai 'Local'

People call it the lifeline of Mumbai - The Mumbai local which covers the entire stretch of this mad city tirelessly, up and down, to and fro, almost round the clock. I have a special place for this lifeline in my heart. As soon as I came to this city, i started using it extensively for commuting and have traveled thousands of kms since then thus spending a considerable time on the track mostly thinking about my life and at times thinking about the lives of my fellow passengers. I still cherish boarding the train with my ipod on and news papers out. I still prefer to use this mode and for many reasons including the vada pao of the local stall on the platform. I think its the best way to understand the city and whats it made of. Traveling from suburbs to the town one can easily appreciate the contrasts it exhibits and the quickness with which the 'local' brings it to you. Its the cheapest, quickest and surest way of reaching yr destination.

I mostly travel by second class (must confess - at times when second class is full to the brim and I cant wait any longer, I board the first class without having a ticket for it). One day when i was on yet another 'trip' on the local and was done with my newspaper I begin to notice who my fellow travelers were. and there were variety of them. There were laborers, fruit sellers, small shop owners for whom the train is a necessity. These are very poor people who travel miles daily to reach their business location. They will usually be carrying their tools, lunch boxes etc in small cloth bags. Then their are college/school going kids with a backpack. Then their are service class people like myself, who flaunt the latest gadgets - phones, ipods etc , and are dressed in typical business attire. Then comes the slightly older generation, usually traveling in groups, seated and discussing the latest political agenda with nothing much to carry along. Also present are the hawkers which sell unique products at amazingly cheap prices. I thought how the same train carries people from different walks of life and offers no differentiation to the rich. It maintains the same speed for all, charge them same fare, offer them same comfort etc. It is such an integrator.

As usual, there are a few things which i don't like about the trains. They could be cleaner for one. I hate it when the trains are over crowded. I don't mind if i do not get a seat but i cant travel when i cant stand comfortably (and hence the up-gradation to first class at times :)). Lately, Mumbai railways have done a wonderful thing by converting all trains to 12 compartments (from 9) and starting some 15 compartment trains as well. That's a truly commendable effort to enhance customer comfort.

I often get this desire - to board the local and travel to the farthest station from Mumbai - appretiating the changes in the landscape, the surroundings and the variety of people it serves.