The railway station on the Parel side was opened to the public on 9 December 1867 for direct connectivity from Parel to other stations on the Central Railway network.[1] In December 1888, plans for an upgraded station were sent to London, and the plans materialised in early 1890s.[3] Vulcan Foundry Locomotive no.3, one of the first locos sent for GIPR after 1850 was said to be driving a rolling mill in the Parel workshop as late as 1916.[4]
Parel is of historical importance in Railway history, for it was the halting point for the Locomotive Lord Falkland, on its first trip on 18 February 1852 between Byculla and Parel. This was probably because the Governor residence was at Parel back then. Lord Falkland was Bombay's first steam Locomotive, and was later also used for the trial run of the first train that happened on 18 November the same year.(prior to the official journey on 16 April 1853)
The Parel Rail Workshops located south of the station were built between 1877 and 1879 on 43 acres of land, due to the original Workshops at Byculla being cramped. During the First World War, it was repurposed to make explosive shells, grenades, and armored vehicles.
On 4 March 2019, the terminal platform on the slow line of the Parel side was inaugurated by Piyush Goyal (Minister of Railways) for reducing the higher passenger pressure load at Dadar railway station. Which it was demanded for many years by the people for easier access on the Central side.[5]
Departure of the Duke of Edinburgh from Parel station
Engraving based on the same image from Illustrated London News, 23-4-1870
Parel railway station, around 1900
