Monday News

So on this first Monday of Feb 2020, few items which I found quite interesting and would like to share with you all.

1 Those who are staying in Mumbai, must be aware that there are two suburban Railway networks (local trains)  by Western and Central Railway. Few years back Western Railway (WR) started  AC local train service on their suburban network, which received a mix response. After receiving the initial response WR asked Railway board for more AC trains, and similarly even Central Railway (CR) asked for AC train. During the last month even CR started their first AC local train on their suburban network, but due to over crowding the functioning of automatic door became problem and the AC train was invariable running late, thus affecting the schedule of normal local trains, which made regular commuters very angry. The problem of AC train being delayed is there on WR also.

With all these problems and public anger has forced the WR to stop buying more AC local trains, WR informed the Railway board that, they prefer having both AC and non AC coaches in the train on their local train network in Mumbai. The trouble started  from the day 1 when AC local train was introduced by WR on Borivali- Churchgate route in Dec 2017. Commuters resented when they found out that first class  ticket/season ticket holders were not allowed to board AC train. As in the long distance train first class fare is more than AC chair car fare, but for suburban network Railway decided to have AC fare more than first class fare. Secondly because of automated doors, the AC local was given longer halt at the stations, which resulted in increase travel time, which in the end affected the normal local trains..

Instead the WR has suggested that they would like to have local trains with 6 or 3 AC coaches along with 9 non AC coaches in their local train. Whether they will retain the 1st class coaches is not clear.Presently one way ticket on Borivali Churchgate section costs Rs 180 for AC, Rs 140 for ist class and Rs 15 for 2nd class. Where as monthly season ticket cost Rs 1775(AC), Rs 860 (1st) and Rs 215 (2nd).

Now the figures show that very small percentage of commuters travel by AC locals. In my opinion it should be highly advisable that Railway Board should stop first class coaches in local trains, and instead they should be replaced by AC coaches, and for fixing the fare for the same they should sit  with Passenger Association and then fixed the same. The present rate of monthly pass for AC is double that of 1st class, which is not  a rational cost,on  which Railway has to re work, considering AC chair car fare is less than first class on long distance trains.

2 Tennis- Australian Open 2020:  This tournament concluded yesterday. There was no surprise is men’s section where Novak Djokovic won the final by beating Dominic Thiem in closely fought 5 set match which lasted 4 hours. Djokovic won the Australian open title for record 8th time, and in the process he took the tally of his Grand Slam titles to 17, only Roger Federar (20) and Rafael Nadal(19) are ahead of him.  Novak is so confident now, and yesterday after the victory he said within 2 years of time, he would like to be on the top of this list. These three players have dominated the grand slams for more than 16 years that they won 56 out of 67 grand slam titles, and in the Australian open these 3 have won 15 of last 17 titles.

For the last 2 years in the women’s section, during the grand slams, no one starts as favourite. After Serena Williams went on maternity leave three years back. no women has dominated the grand slam tournaments. if you last 3 years women winners in grand slams, you will notice this

2017- Serena Wlliams (Australian), Jelena Ostapenko (French) garbine Muguruza (Wimbeldon), Sloane Stephens (US)

2018- Caroline Wozniaci (Australian), Simona Halep (french), Angelique Kerber (Wimbeldon),Naomi Osaka (US)

2019-Naomi Osaka (Australian), Simona Halep (Wimbeldon), Ashleighy Barty (French), Binaca Andreescu (US)

So from the 12 grand slam championships there are 10 winners, only 2 players have 2 grand slams each during last 3 years.

This year also in Australian open there is a new champion Sofia Kenin.

So in women’s section it has been proven for more than 3 years that no player is dominating. Any one from 50 could be the eventual champion. But in men’s section still it is from top 3 ie Djokovic, Nadal or Federar.

So friends, how do you find this blog of mine. Please do write  your views/comments/feed backs.

Anil Malik

Mumbai, India

3rd Feb 2020.