Churchgate station, Mumbai's Western line terminus
Churchgate station (code CCG) is the southern terminus of the Western line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway, run by the Western Railway. Churchgate station in Mumbai stands in the business district of South Mumbai, near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, and is where Western line suburban trains begin and end their journeys.
Why it is called Churchgate
The old Fort of Bombay had three main gates. One led straight to St Thomas Cathedral and was called the "Church Gate". The fort walls were pulled down in the 1860s, and the station built near the site of that gate took its name.
History
- 12 April 1867: the first suburban train runs between Virar and Bombay Backbay.
- Early 1870s: Churchgate opens with five trains a day; the line reaches Colaba in 1873.
- 1876: the station is rebuilt with two platforms, in a style compared to a Swiss chalet.
- 1 January 1931: Colaba stops being the terminus; trains now end at Churchgate.
- 1952: new chocolate-and-cream rakes start running to Borivali.
- July 1955: India's first pedestrian subway opens near the station.
- Mid-1950s: the station is rebuilt as a seven-storey building, bringing the railway's scattered offices together.
Across the road stands the grand old headquarters of the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway, completed by 1899.
Using Churchgate
Every Western line local, slow or fast, starts and ends here, so you can usually get a seat by boarding at Churchgate. Trains run north via Marine Lines, Mumbai Central and Dadar to Borivali and Virar. Long-distance Western Railway trains do not start here; they use Mumbai Central or Bandra Terminus.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called Churchgate station?
It is named after the "Church Gate" of the old Bombay Fort, which led to St Thomas Cathedral.
Do long-distance trains leave from Churchgate?
No. Churchgate is only for Western line suburban trains.
For express trains, see our train schedule page.