Mumbai Central — Local services in Mumbai

Operated by - Western Railways Line(s) - Western Line, Ahmedabad–Mumbai main line, New Delhi–Mumbai main Platforms - 9 (5 mainline trains + 4 for Mumbai suburban/local trains) Structure type - Standard on-ground station Parking - Yes (on the outstation side Tracks - 9 Connections - BEST, Metro, MSRTC Status - Functioning Station code - MMCT Zone(s) - Western Railways Division(s) - Mumbai WR Opened - 18 December 1930

It was designed by the British architect Claude Batley, and constructed by the Shapoorji Pallonji in 1930 in a record time of 21 months. The project was then costed INR 15.6 million.

When the station opened in 1930, The Times of India suggested that the name Bombay Central was inspired by the Grand Central Terminal in New York City. The paper argued that the station should have been called Kamathipura, after the area it was located in. The paper suggested that the name Kamathipura was probably ruled out, because the area is a red-light district.

The Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway extended its reach from Baroda to Pathankot via Delhi. The Colaba-Ballard Pier railway station proved insufficient in meeting the demands of a growing population which led the government to make plans for the construction of Bombay Central.

‌The present suburban route that once ran till Colaba was earlier served by Bellasis Road station. It was renamed Bombay Central (local) after the construction of the long-distance Bombay Central Terminus (BCT) on the eastern side.[5] On 1 Feb 2018, a resolution was passed to change the station code from BCT to MMCT. ‌Platforms and layout Edit The station is divided into two parts. The eastern half of the station serves long-distance trains operated by Western Railways while the western half serves commuter trains running on the Churchgate–Virar suburban section of Western Railways. The mainline section has five high level platforms terminating in a large concourse on the southern end. The suburban section has four high level platforms. All the platforms are connected by foot overbridges and the mainline platforms are wheelchair accessible from the south end.

Tickets and reservation A large Passenger Reservation Center with several ticket windows is located on the east side of the mainline station. Tickets between any two stations in India on any train offering reserved accommodation can be purchased from this facility. There are many Unreserved Ticket Counters in the main concourse for purchasing unreserved tickets for immediate travel on express and passenger trains starting from Mumbai Central. The west and south exits of the suburban section of the station have ticket windows for purchasing tickets for travel on the suburban trains. Suburban train tickets can also be purchased from automatic ticket vending machines (ATVMs) located at several locations in the station premises.

'Food and other facilities' The concourse on the mainline side has an outlet of Rajdhani chain of restaurants serving authentic Indian food. Bellasis Rail Café at Mumbai Central is located on the first floor near Bellasis Road overbridge connecting Mumbai Central station near the south end booking office. Items in this café are available in food packets, with ready to take away facility.

There are several stalls in the concourse and on the suburban platforms serving snacks, chips, bottled water and cold drinks (soda). There are book stalls in the main concourse and on the suburban platforms selling newspapers, magazines and other reading material. Train timetables are also available at the book stalls. Restrooms (toilets) are available in the concourse on the...

It’s really interesting that there have been reviews published about Mumbai CST and Churchgate Station etc. but I couldn’t find one about this one which I believe is a bit unfair. For such a beautiful and historical building not to find a mention here would be doing injustice to it.

The terminus has its share of history; the erstwhile Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway decided to extend its reach from Baroda to Pathankot and during that period the Colaba-Ballard Estate Station which served its need were seemingly insufficient to cater to the growing demand and so it led to the plans for construction of a new terminus; Bombay Central Terminus.

It was Claude Batley who was assigned to design the new mainline terminus and plans were set in motion in 1928 to that effect and in 1930 the terminus was complete and put to public use. The Times of India at that point in time noted that the terminus seemed to be inspired on the lines of the Grand Central Station, New York. It’s a three-storied building with the influence of Mughal architecture and with a garden on the east side (main entrance).

The station is divided into two parts and has a total of 9 platforms (5 for long distance and 4 serving suburban trains). At that point in time, the terminus was designed as such that the first floor was kept for European styled catering and other waiting rooms, the second floor used as retiring rooms for those passengers who were in the city for a short time. At the termination of the platforms is this huge concourse with an array of restaurants and general waiting area. Both the parts are connected by a foot-over-bridge for easy access and movement.

Almost all the long distance trains to the north and to the west used to originate from this terminus but nowadays only a few premium trains like the Shatabdi, Rajdhani, Duronto and some other important trains originate and terminate here. It was renamed as Mumbai Central in 1997 after a change in the name of the city from Bombay to Mumbai and as recent as in 2018 the station code was also changed from BCT to MMCT.

During ‘those’ days, this is the terminus where one used to alight and continue their journey further south from another terminus the majestic CSMT. To be fair, it doesn’t come across as a striking attraction as the CSMT would, but it has as I said its rightful place in history which cannot be ignored. By the standards of India, Mumbai Central Terminus is an incredibly clean, ordered and easy to navigate train station. Once you walk in through the entrance and vestibule, is the waiting area with food court on one side, the entrance to the platforms on the opposite and a departure board up high. There’s also an A/C waiting room for first...

Mumbai Central railway station with station code MMCT, Western railway. Mumbai Central station serves Greater Mumbai [Bombay] in District - Mumbai Suburban , Maharashtra. Mumbai Central Railway Station formerly known as Bombay Central Terminus/BCT Railway Station.

As a History point of view - Amongst the oldest railway stations in India, It was designed by the British architect Claude Batley, and constructed by the Shapoorji Pallonji in 1930 in a record time of 21 months.

Today, it acts as a key stop for local and inter-city/express trains and is a connecting station for various trains across Northern, Western and North-Western parts of India. The total number of trains that pass through Mumbai Central junction is approx 45. The Railway Station accommodates both local and long distance trains and is divided into to two parts. The eastern part which has five platforms manages to and fro of long distance trains while the western part is dedicated to local trains running on the Churchgate-Virar suburban section and houses four high level platforms.

Tickets and reservation - A large Passenger Reservation Center with several ticket windows is located and there are many Unreserved Ticket Counters also located.The west and south exits of the suburban section of the station have ticket windows for purchasing tickets for travel on the suburban trains. Suburban train tickets can also be purchased from automatic ticket vending machines (ATVMs) located at several locations in the station premises.

Food and other facilities - The concourse on the mainline side has an outlet of Rajdhani chain of restaurants serving authentic Indian food. Bellasis Rail Café at Mumbai Central is located on the first floor near Bellasis Road overbridge connecting Mumbai Central station near the south end booking office. Items in this café are available in food packets, with ready to take away facility. There are several stalls in the concourse and on the suburban platforms serving snacks, chips, bottled water and cold drinks (soda). There are book stalls in the main concourse and on the suburban platforms selling newspapers, magazines and other reading material. Train timetables are also available at the book stalls. Restrooms (toilets) are available in the concourse on the mainline side. Indian railways gets first POD hotel at Mumbai Central station. A POD hotel has several small bed-sized capsules and provides affordable overnight accommodation.

As part of one of the busiest and populated Indian states, Maharashtra, the Mumbai Central railway station is known amongst the top hundred train ticket booking and train traveling stations of the Indian Railway. Recommended to all atleast a visit to explore with...