Passengers, who travel on these trains, say they share a great rapport with each other

Since 2008, Priyanka Redkar, 45, has been taking a fixed local train — the 7.35 am ladies special — from Virar to Churchgate, as part of her daily commute. As she settles into the compartment, familiar faces greet her. It's not long before dabbas are opened, and hot puris and idlis start doing the rounds. For Redkar, her fellow commuters are now family. "Virar locals are usually very crowded. But one finds a lot of peace and space in the ladies special," she said, after alighting at Bandra station, 45 minutes later. "Over the years, we have become very close and share a tight bond," she added.