Indian Railways turns 162 on April 16, commuters celebrate in Thane

On this day one of the world's largest railway networks is turning 162-years-old. The first train of the Indian Railways was introduced from Mumbai to Thane on April 16, 1853.

On this day one of the world's largest railway networks is turning 162-years-old. The first train of the Indian Railways was introduced from Mumbai to Thane on April 16, 1853.

Thane-railway-district-passenger-association-celebrates-Indian-Railways-s-162nd-anniversary-at-Thane-Station-The-first-train-of-the-Indian-Railways-was-introduced-from-Mumbai-to-Thane-on-April-16-1853-Photo-Praful-Gangude

When you step into the Thane station today, know that you are standing on a piece of India’s rich history.

One of India’s busiest stations turns 162 years old on Thursday.

“On April 16, 1853, the first passenger train of the Great Indian Peninsula chugged out of Bori Bunder station, now known as CST, for Tannah (Thane) at 3.35pm. This train took 57 minutes to reach Thane and covered 21 miles (33.9 km),” said Omprakash Sharma, president of Thane District Railway Passengers’ association.

Locomotives named Sultan, Sindh and Sahib pulled the train, which was carrying 400 passengers.

The local train that started with just three rounds has today expanded to more than 110 rounds of the station.

The few hundred passengers in the 1800s have now grown to six lakh commuters a day, and the station that began with a single platform had 11 today, with two escalators for platforms 3 and 4, and 5 and 6.

The station’s revenue is more than Rs 40 lakh day, while the monthly turnover is around Rs 5 crore.

The celebrations at the station, however, will be tined down. “Permission for any kind of celebration on the station premises denied,” said Sharma.

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Thane station trivia

# The Thane station is one of India’s busiest, according to a Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) survey

# 1,100 local trains and 55 outstation trains handled by the station, which has 11 platforms and 24 ticket windows

# Rs 40 lakh is the daily revenue collected at Thane station.

(Photos: Praful Gangurde)