Borivali railway station

Borivali (station code: BO ( suburban )/BVI ( mainline )) is a railway station on the Western line of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network and an outbound station. It serves the suburban of Borivali.

The Borivali Railway Station is a terminus for all slow, semi-fast and fast trains on the Mumbai Suburban Railway system. It also serves as the final city-limit stop for all mail and express trains on Western Railway before leaving Mumbai. As of Oct 2022, the plans to extend the Harbour Line to Borivali, and expansion plans are in full steam, with the survey for land acquisition being completed.

Borivali is used by almost 2.87 lakh (287,000) passengers every day and is the busiest station on the western suburban line of Mumbai. The number of passengers using Borivali is much higher compared to other stations due many commuters from adjoining stations preferring to travel here to catch a local train as it is difficult to board one from stations such as Dahisar, Kandivli or Malad.

History
Borivali is mentioned as one of the stations where the first regular suburban train service of BB&CI halted. Then, it was known as 'Berewla'. This train service was inaugurated between Bombay Backbay station and Viraur on April 12, 1867.

The Station was remodeled in 1913, along with Virar. The remodeling diagrams of the station were published in a BB&CI Magazine dated Dec 1923.

The Magazine (see pg 6, 11)

1913 Remodeling of Borivali

In the Diagrams, the original layout of the station (before 1913 remodeling) shows a two platform station, each platform on the west and east. In the diagram, the one on the west is labelled 'Down Platform' while the east one has been labelled 'Up Platform'. Between them were the Up and Down main lines. A Loop line was located to the East of the Down Platform. The station had one siding, to the North of the Down Platform. The station also had two cabins, named 'Cabin A' and 'Cabin B', located on the east of the main lines. Two level crossings were present, either on the north and south of the station.

The Revised Layout shows some improvements made; notably, the addition of a new siding line, and the categorization of the Eastern platform as an Island platform. The siding line was shortened, and a refuge siding added east of the loop line. A Ballast siding was added as well. Further, the 'B' Cabin was shifted closer to the island platform. (For the diagrams, visit the above Pdf)

Platforms
For the convenience of the passengers Western Railway has decided to change the platform numbers of Borivali station. The platforms have now been numbered from west to east to maintain uniformity. Changes will be effective from 4 June 2017.

As of July 2024, there are 10 platforms at the station and as of 4 June 2017 after renumbering of platform number the trains that these platforms handle are as follows:
 * 1st - Caters to Churchgate bound trains
 * 2nd - Caters to Churchgate bound trains
 * 3rd - Caters to both Churchgate bound and Virar bound Trains
 * 4th - Caters predominantly to Churchgate bound trains
 * 5th - Caters to both Churchgate and Virar bound trains
 * 6th - Caters to Virar bound trains and also long distance Express like Rajdhani express and Mail trains going outside Mumbai
 * 7th - Caters to Churchgate bound fast trains and also long distance Express and Mail trains coming into Mumbai
 * 8th - Caters to Churchgate bound trains and also to long distance Express and Mail trains coming into and going outside Mumbai
 * 9th - Caters to Churchgate bound trains and also to long distance Express and Mail trains coming into and going outside Mumbai
 * 10th - Caters to Churchgate bound AC trains

The 1st and 2nd platforms are terminal platforms.