My first experience of this train was way back - around 12 years ago when my parents and I had gone for a relative’s wedding to Pune. Indrayani express was to serve as our host - taking us to Pune - thru the picturesque ghats falling b/w the two cities. We had boarded this train at 5.30 am. And it started bang on time.
Since then - I have fallen in love with the scenic landscapes falling b/w these two thriving cities and the overall (Indrayani) train journey experience.
Indrayani express - as someone has written in the review before me - has taken its name from Indrayani river.
It covers the Mumbai - Pune route in about 3 hrs time (excluding the 45 mins extra it takes just to travel inside Mumbai).
My *last* travel thru this train was about a week ago to Pune - when I had secured my admission to CDAC. Caught the 6.30 pm Indrayani (Pune - Mumbai). The first thing I had to do was book the ’’general class’’ ticket.
Now, even though you may want to sit in the second class or first class - you end up taking a general class ticket - b’cause - first and second class tickets have to be booked much in advance - unless you are a regular traveller - with a *season* ticket. But - you can bypass this by simply getting onboard (after buying the general class ticket!) - either on the first or second class compartment and grabbing an unoccupied seat (which is not reserved). When the Ticket Checker arrives - simply pay him the excess amount and have your ticket upgraded!
CAUTIONARY NOTE: Never ever travel through *general class* compartments of semi & long distance trains. The general class is choc-a-bloc with people and their heavy goods / luggages. Plus, the general class almost always ends up being occupied by people whose company is best avoided.
Anyways, when I did board the second class compartment - what I noticed first - was the obvious decline in passengers this train carries. This is mainly b’cause of the newly built Mumbai-Pune expressway (which is absolutely world class). The main passengers (at least) in second class were regular travellers - compromising - office goers, businessmen, close relatives visiting each other across these two cities, etc.
What I like most about the train is its intense desire to reach on time. As it leaves the Pune or Mumbai station to reach its destination - the train slowly but surely gathers up the steam and in few minutes time is chugging along a break-neck speed of something like 75 - 90 + kmph - which is quite fast in India :) The train maintains its speed and quite nicely covers the entire scenic landscape without much of a hassle.
The ghats that the express deals with are scenic and dangerous. Travelling through the tunnels and deftly tackling the cuves and the climbs - the train makes a meal of the journey - thanks mainly to the seasoned drivers of Indrayani express.
Train features: The second class compartment is fairly comfortable and one should be able to enjoy the ride for most part. The food is of good quality and you can get quite a variety of meals.
My favorite are batata (potato) and sabudana wadas, omlettes, sandwiches and the coffee. The food serving staff make continuous to and fro journey across the train - filling up the stomachs of the relaxed (& mostly satisfied) travellers of Indrayani. I also like to eat the famous wadas of Karjat.
Travelling through Indrayani is an overall good experience. My last journey through this train was at evening (6.30 Pune departed - 9.30 Thane arrived). Met plenty of office goers. Some of them singing and joking. One group playing Antakshari and others - reading, sleeping. A very lively experience in all.
On other details:
The Indrayani express leaves Mumbai in morning at 5.45 or 6.00 am (pls. confirm the exact timing with the officials) and reaches Pune at about 9.30 am. The evening train from Pune leaves at 6.30 pm and reaches Mumbai at about 9.45 - 10.00 pm. These are just two train timings among many for the day b/w the two cities.
Ticket fare is Rs. 73/- (as of July 04) for second class. First class fares about 4-5 times more *methinks*
The train (from Mumbai) starts at CST (Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus) - stops at Dadar and Thane (in Mumbai) - then Kalyan and Karjat (just outside Mumbai), later at Lonavala (b/w Mumbai and Pune) and finally at Shivajinagar (Pune) and Central Pune station.
All in all - travelling through Indrayani express is money’s worth. The scenic landscapes, jovial passengers and the food will make your experience soothing and enjoyable.