My association with the 1st UP Fast local of the day (CR) goes back to 2005.Since my initial working years in Taj to now when I work in Hilton,most of the morning shift commute included this Fast in the itinerary. Those days , it used to run late by 10-20 min as a norm.Very rarely it used to manage to maintain its schedule due to the barrage of incoming M/E Trains,the MPS of 80(DC locals) and the lack of 5th and 6th lines between Thane (TNA) and Ghatkopar (GC).
Things changed when MRVC Siemens made inroads into CR.The 5th,6th lines between TNA and LTT and the 7th line between CST and Mazgaon became the game changers for most UP fast trains in Mumbai Suburban.Yet , it continued to remain low on preference as at least 2-3 times in a week,it used to get delayed by more than 10 min.Then, one day it was reported that the poor station master at Badlapur( BUD) was manhandled by irate commuters as the local was continuously getting late due to higher priority accorded to M/E entering Mumbai in the early morning hours.
For some reason,after that the train has been fairly on time on most days,and even if it doesn't run on time ,it never got late by more than 10 min at Dombivli (DI) and mostly reached CST almost on par with the schedule.
Today, I wanted to catch the same local but knowing that this service almost runs on time,I had lost all hopes of catching it as it was 5:55 am when I got off the auto at DI East.The schedule is 5:54 at DI and 6:21 at GC. A cursory glance at PF 5 of DI,indicated the presence of crowd and I could hear a fast approaching WAP4 horn on UP Fast line as I was climbing the KYN end FOB.The WAP4 hauled train was Jnaneshwari Express and it blasted the platform without caring a damn for the junta with utter disdain.Train Management System (TMS) showed the first fast was scheduled to reach in 6 min so it must have just left KYN station.I took my own sweet time to reach the Middle First Class (FC) as the TMS was counting down from 6 to 0 min as expected. It was MRVC 2005-6 for the service today.We left DI by 6:02. We hit MPS soon and began the chase to hunt down the Jnaneshwari. After following all the caution orders (CO) we slowed down after Parsik Tunnel (PSK) as Jnaneshwari Express was taking extra long time to enter the 6th line. It doesn't have a stop at TNA,so it was more difficult for my MRVC to catch up with it as we had to stop at TNA,MLND and then reach GC.
After a brief halt at TNA,the amazing acceleration power and the amazing CR Motorman got on the job and before we could reach Mulund (MLND),we managed to catch up with the tail lamp of Jnaneshwari. But, an additional stop at MLND meant that the express wiggled out faster and I was left wanting for more action.Not to disappoint me any further the MPS of 100 on 4th line (for MRVC) and the MPS of 90 on 6th line coupled with the "can do" attitude of the motorman and All Greens ahead meant that we finally caught up with the express soon after Vikhroli (VK) and the parallel run at a higher speed meant that the loco of Jnaneshwari and the MRVC Head Code 2005 entered GC simultaneously. We reached GC by 6:29 and though late by 8 min,the revenge was taken and I am sure with All Greens ahead, the first fast would reach CST late by not more than 3-4 minutes.
In a few years from now,this Fast train will start taking the new lines via the longer route of Kalva, Mumbra and yet would be full of zeal to tackle the M/E trains.The new lines between DW and TNA can ensure that CR can run trains at a higher frequency and ensure crowd levels reach acceptable limits in this sector,because unlike WR which is already performing at the peak efficiency of trains all through the day,CR can manage to reduce crowd after new lines are in place as many a slot will become free.
It was just another day in the life of many CR commuters which is otherwise riddled with daily cancellations and heartburn. But the early morning adrenaline which it ensued in me will hold me in good stead for a wonderful day ahead.I curse CR everyday for cancellation of services but when you think they are operating under so much constraints,I want to salute them from the bottom of my heart.
