Thane (station code: TNA) is an A1 category major railway station of the Indian Railways serving the city of Thane, Located in Maharashtra, it is one of the busiest railway stations in India. As of 2013[update], Thane railway station handles 260000 people daily. More than 1,000 trains visit the station each day, including 330+ long-distance trains.[1] The station has ten platforms. It is the origin and destination station of all the trans-harbour suburban trains. Thane is India's first passenger railway Station along with Bori Bunder railway station.
History
Thane railway station was the terminus for the first ever passenger train in India. On 16 April 1853, the first passenger train service was inaugurated from Bori Bunder (now renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus), Mumbai to Thane.[2] Covering a distance of 34 kilometres (21 mi), it was hauled by three locomotives: Sahib, Sindh, and Sultan, and carried around 400 passengers.
The First Trial Train Journey
About five months before this inaugural journey, a trial run was conducted from near Bori Bunder to the Parsick (Parsik) Point in Tannah (now Thane). This journey started on the noon of 18 November 1852, soon after 12 p.m, with the Directors, Engineers of the GIP Railway (the company that built the line), along with their friends.The train was pulled by Bombay's first steam locomotive, Lord Falkland, with temporarily arranged 'trucks' as rail carriages, since the three Locomotives and the coaches for the company had not yet been made ready (since they arrived just 2 months ago in September 1852). The party was planned to reach their destination at Parsik Point at about 1 p.m., have their tiffin inside the 100 yard tunnel there, and return to Bombay by sunset, reports the Allen's Indian Mail, 1852.[3]
The Official Journey
The scene during the official journey in April 1853 was even extravagant. The 14 coach train, carrying in all 400 passengers, started its journey at the Bori Bunder Station, where there grand celebrations, with a decorated platform, arriving invitees, playing band, among other others. At Thane, the case was no different. When the train finally approached Thana, people crowded thickly on the sides for more than a mile, and had to be kept in control by the Ghat police, On the arrival, the passengers were welcomed by large erected tents, under which they would have their food, and no demands overlooked. There were also speeches, delivered by the present gentlemen. Among the speakers, was the Chief Engineer of the GIP Railway, James.J.Berkeley. He gave a elaborate speech, notably also mentioning the work of the native laborers, saying they exceeded expectations, and also the commanding officers of the native troops, for their endurance, discipline, and docility.
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