South Korean Tourist Fails to Board Local Train at Thane Station, Takes Taxi
A South Korean tourist travelling across India was unable to board a local train at Thane station during his first attempt to experience the city’s suburban railway network, eventually abandoning the effort to take a taxi.
The visitor, identified as Sejin, documented his attempt in an Instagram video that later attracted significant attention from social media users.
Sejin began his journey at Thane station by purchasing a two-hour round-trip ticket for Rs 170. After obtaining the ticket, he navigated towards the platform but appeared unsure of where to stand or how to proceed as the train approached.
When the local train arrived at the platform, regular commuters gathered near the carriage doors to board immediately. Sejin made an initial attempt to get onto the train alongside the crowd. However, the fast movement of the passengers caught him off guard, leading him to move away from the entrance.
Rather than giving up immediately, Sejin waited on the platform for a second train to arrive and tried once more. His second attempt yielded the same result, leaving him unable to board and visibly frustrated by the fast-paced boarding process. He subsequently gave up on taking the local train and chose to travel by taxi instead.
In the caption accompanying his Instagram video, Sejin reflected on the experience and the intensity of the suburban transit system. He wrote, "Experiencing the Mumbai local train made me deeply respect the people here and reflect on myself."
Social media users responding to the video offered varied opinions on his attempt. Some viewers suggested he may have given up too quickly, pointing out that the train in the video did not look particularly crowded compared to typical peak services. Others noted that navigating platform locations, train directions, and boarding etiquette can be confusing for newcomers, suggesting that first-time visitors ask railway staff or fellow passengers for assistance or avoid busy travel hours.
