Where Indian railways began
Thane railway station (code TNA) has a place in history no other station can match: on 16 April 1853, India's first passenger train ran here from Bori Bunder, today's CSMT, carrying about 400 passengers over 34 km. Together with Bori Bunder, Thane was one of India's first two passenger stations. Today it is an NSG-1 station of the Central Railway's Mumbai division and one of the busiest stations in the country.
The first journey
- 18 November 1852: a trial run is made, hauled by the locomotive Lord Falkland.
- 16 April 1853: the official first train runs from Bori Bunder to Thane, hauled by three locomotives named Sahib, Sindh and Sultan.
A year later the line was extended beyond Thane to Kalyan.
A giant of the suburban network
More than 1,000 trains call at Thane every day, including over 330 long-distance trains. As of 2013 it handled about 260,000 passengers a day. It has 10 platforms on 10 tracks, and is the terminus for all Trans-Harbour line trains, which link Thane with Navi Mumbai and Panvel.
Thane's role today
Many long-distance trains between Mumbai and the north, east and south stop at Thane, which saves travellers from the city's suburbs a journey into central Mumbai. The station sits between Byculla and Kalyan on the historic Central line.
Frequently asked questions
When did the first train reach Thane?
On 16 April 1853, from Bori Bunder in Bombay, with about 400 passengers.
How many trains stop at Thane railway station?
More than 1,000 a day, including over 330 long-distance trains.
Which suburban lines serve Thane?
The Central main line and the Trans-Harbour line, which terminates at Thane.
Long-distance stops at TNA are on our train timings page.