Mumbai: Worlds Busiest Railways...

[Caravanman]

Hi,
Just a heads up about a new BBC programme airing Monday 24th Aug 2015 on BBC2.

Looks to start the ball rolling with a programme about Mumbai. I at least will find it interesting as I shall be visiting India myself in a few weeks time.

Cheers,

Edwin.

 

[tony6499]

On for 4 nights next week , looks worth watching

 

[jonty14]

Started now.

 

[Crossover]

Very interesting so far

 

[yorksrob]

"super dense crushload" looks like some trains from Manchester Victoria on a Saturday night !

 

[30907]

Currently getting very excited about track circuits.... waiting for the customer complaints?

 

[306024]

Thoroughly enjoyable hours viewing. Well presented and a good balance of railway and people stories. Hope the rest are as good.

 

[gazthomas]

I really enjoyed my travels in northern India by rail last year. Friendly people

 

[jillo]

Really interesting programme, crazy place that Mumbai...

 

[AM9]

I found the lunch delivery service fascinating. Seems pretty reliable as he said that the deliveries always went to the correct person.
Although their trains are pretty wide, and longer I just can't imagine 5000 people getting off one train. The Thameslink 700s are supposed to take 1700 crush-loaded passengers but three times that?

 

[plcd1]

Good programme and nicely presented with a good mix of topics. While I have seen clips of the suburban trains before I was astounded at the "boarding" conduct at stations with such tiny dwell times. The daily death rate on that network is staggering and I'm surprised it's actually tolerated although obviously it's no doubt rationalised and set in context of the sheer numbers travelling and the undoubted problems that would ensue if you tried to fix the problem. I suppose the Tokyo rail system is the "polite" and "non violent" and safe version of Mumbai's network. Tokyo's trains don't run with all the doors open.

While I understand basic signalling principles I felt the explanation of the signalling and control functionality was very well pitched and there must be an opportunity for any UK rail operator to try to tell the same story and to show the amazing infrastructure to try to improve passengers' understanding of what's involved and how it can take time to actually fix a signal failure / broken cabling or wiring.

 

[IanKR]

[...]
While I understand basic signalling principles I felt the explanation of the signalling and control functionality was very well pitched and there must be an opportunity for any UK rail operator to try to tell the same story and to show the amazing infrastructure to try to improve passengers' understanding of what's involved and how it can take time to actually fix a signal failure / broken cabling or wiring.

Absolutely. I was thinking that.

 

[ryan125hst]

I also watched the documentary last night and found it fascinating. It was certainly an eye opener as well though- I don't think i'd even want to attempt to board one of those trains at rush hour!

I agree about that lunch service. It looked like a logistical nightmare and my Mum couldn't understand how the right lunches get on the right people's desks! I guess they have to do as they probably couldn't afford to buy lunch out and, as they said, there's no hope in taking it with you on the train!

As I watched it, I also thought how it would be great for a similar program to be made for our railways. Waterloo would probably be ideal given the shear number of trains that use the station and many will be crowded 12 coach trains. I thought that as live feel worked well as well and that could easily be done here as well (obviously actually broadcasting it live would be useless as everyone would be heading to work at that time!) They could show on of our new signalling centers and explain how our signalling works, and look into the catering operation of one of the Intercity TOC's at another London station.

I think it would be a great thing for them to do and would also allow the public to compare our railways to those of India.

Going back on topic, I'm looking forward to tonight's episode on long distance train travel.

 

[stut]

Personally, I don't think they said the phrase "super-dense crush load" enough...

I remember pottering about on the Mumbai suburban railways - shoulder peak (but never full peak) a few years ago, and the programme brought it all back. What impressed me most was the serenely good nature of the majority of people you encounter - you couldn't cope otherwise.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Apart from the struggle on the commuter network - how does the city cope with sewage / sanitation and rubbish disposal with such growth ?

Mate of mine did a little consultancy for them over 10 years ago - the old fleet was almost out of gauge due to the abnormal pressures on the chassis / bodies through overcrowding.

Most of the deaths are due to trespassers.

Copper signal wires were buried about 6 ft down due to endemic theft - though looks as if they have had resignalling and a newer fleet. (less battered !)

 

[yorksrob]

Apart from the struggle on the commuter network - how does the city cope with sewage / sanitation and rubbish disposal with such growth ?

Mate of mine did a little consultancy for them over 10 years ago - the old fleet was almost out of gauge due to the abnormal pressures on the chassis / bodies through overcrowding.

Most of the deaths are due to trespassers.

Copper signal wires were buried about 6 ft down due to endemic theft - though looks as if they have had resignalling and a newer fleet. (less battered !)

I'm sure on a previous programme it mentioned that some of the electric trains dated from the 1930's.

 

[gazthomas]

Those hard hats in the depot on tonight's programme looked very shiny and new!

 

[crispy1978]

Going to catch up on iPlayer on Thursday hopefully

 

[Crossover]

I'm really enjoying this - quite like how they move between the presenters which gives it a feeling of a live show (it reminds me of a similar style programme but I can't remember what it is!) and they get a whole load of content into the time (there had been a number of well covered topics and I looked at the clock to see we still had half an hour left)

I'd be interested to know what a lay person thought of it, but my feeling is they've got the balance of detail just about right

I'd possibly go so far to say that it's the best rail based documentary that I've ever seen, based on the first two episodes

 

[duesselmartin]

I wonder if its shown on BBC World as the iplayer sadly does not work outside the UK

 

[Bungle965]

Just watched the second episode it is amazing how diffrent it is to this country saftey wise with tresspassers and yet it seems like there saftey is top priority (according to the program). Another thing i found amazing was that when the railway system effectivly went into meltdown the people started rioting which I found amazing i think one of the presenters described the best "it is a love hate relationship" except you do not get to see the love.
Looking foward to the next episode.
Sam

 

[MrCub]

I've been really enjoying the programme. I like the style in which it has been produced; it feels 'live', like those 'Animal Hospital' and 'Stargazing' programmes, even though it's clearly not. The features and stories within are really interesting and well produced, and the presenters are very engaging (even Dan Snow who I usually don't really like).

It strikes me that many of the traditions and working ways of the India's railways remind me of 'old school' British Rail, and the links between Britain and India are very much reinforced.

It really has been eye-opening stuff.

 

[VauxhallandI]

Watched the one tonight. I thought the presenters were awful and the style poor.

Loved the actual rail content.

 

[gazthomas]

I think two episodes were enough, becoming repetitive now

 

[Bungle965]

I think two episodes were enough, becoming repetitive now

Watching the first episode, i can see where you are comming from.
At least it will not be as dragged out as the Channel 5 program that followed EYMS (East Yorkshire Motor Services) around.
Sam

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Delivering around 96% RT (for a target of 98 or so) - makes me wonder if they could be persuaded to second a few people over.

The presenters are obviously really smitten with the operation - fair enough. Intrigued to see they still use "tick sheets" to record real time performance (much like the DB signal staff often use manual graphs) - very old railway - and something we used to do , back in the day - before computers took over everything.

 

[tony6499]

Interesting that the drivers didn't wear any uniform

 

[GodAtum]

Watching the 1st episode. I dont think it is more awful then here. They were only on for 15 mins. I've been on a train like that here for 2 hours.
So a fine with £2.50 and a monthly standard ticket is £2.15. A lot better then we have here!
There also seems to be more trains as they are 40 secs apart from each other. I'm surprised how few people are in the control room comapred to in the UK.
They said CST only has 7, most London terminus have more!
The lunchmen are better then Royal mail here.

 

[crispy1978]

Just watched the first two on the iPlayer - very entertaining couple of hours!

 

[Bletchleyite]

Watching the 1st episode. I dont think it is more awful then here. They were only on for 15 mins. I've been on a train like that here for 2 hours.

People travel like that for 48 hours overnight...after having done it from Agra to Delhi (3 hours) I never felt quite the same way about a LM short-form for quite some time. I was told that if I bribed the guard (I hadn't reserved) I would have got upgraded, but it was an interesting if not entirely comfortable experience.

The lunchmen are better then Royal mail here.

It's a seriously impressive system, but probably rather more costly than just buying lunch! I imagine it works because of the very low pay usual in India, it would never work here.