Train from Mumbai to Goa - Yes or No?
 

We're spending 4 nights in Mumbai late January 2013 and then moving on to Goa. My travel agent suggested that we fly, but I'd like opinions from 'real people'. Our motive is not to save money (I don't think that the 1AC fare is much less than the flight anyway!) but to see a little of the countryside.
Suggestions, please? Thank you!

If you like trains and have the time, I'd do it. I think the cost is quite s bit less, too.

But if you want to really experience things, dont do 1AC, unless you are taking a night train. In which case you wont see much of the countryside.

The train departs Mumbai at around midnight, arriving Margao 12 hours later, so we would have 5 hours or so to look out the window.

I've never been on a train in India where the windows were clean enough to see much. Also, 12 hours is quite a long time of a train and by the end of 12 hours who knows what the bathrooms will be like. Personally, for that distance, I would fly.

I have done it by train, on a day train. Unfortunately, I slept badly the night before and napped through a lot of the scenery. I also took the train further south, from Goa to Mangalore. Although I'm a big fan of train travel, the scenery didn't live up to my expectations. However, I do think that taking the train is one of those experiences which is worthwhile regardless of the scenery, but take 2AC if you want to meet people. See seat61.com for lots of info. Checking cleartrip shows the fastest train at around 8 hours, but you get in very early in the morning.

The train is an essential Indian experience - yet another boring flight wouldn't be.

Yes, do some reswearch so you know what to expect. Most travellers go AC2, with open-plan sleeper bunks with curtains for privacy, it's half the price of AC1, and in some ways I prefer it to AC1. It's the way the Indian middle classes travel, familes and so forth, whilst in AC1 it's army officers and bank managers.

being overnight it'll not take more time out of your schedule than 4 hours of airports and taxis and flight, but will be one memorable experience you'll keep forever, a real insight into india itself.

You may take a Jan Shatabdi which leaves at 5:30 am in the morning and reaches Thivim (closer to North Goa)at 1:30 pm the same day and 2:30 pm at Margao (closer to South Goa). Have taken the same train a couple of times and been treated to good scenery and good experience. This seats be an AC Chair Car (no berths for sleeping) and you are served breakfast and lunch in the train itself; unique experience for sure.