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BHPian vigsom recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
After some great experiences on trains, many of which I've penned on the forum, my most recent ones (in the last 2 months) have been nothing to write home about; I've been taking a train almost every week and my experiences have been the worst in my 45 plus years of rail travel. Here is a list:
Sorry to state this, but my worst experience in Indian Railways all these years has been in the recent months and a big blot on all the good work that's been done and that I've personally seen in the last few years.
Here's what BHPian sukhbirST had to say about the matter:
Thanks for bringing out important facts which we generally ignore, though have faced them often. Will be careful about linen, food etc. Have been informed about trains being changed, cancelled or combined post covid. Also, there are issues like restoring travel concessions that media or people like you have brought out.
Here's what BHPian jkrishnakj had to say about the matter:
The issues you articulated (barring the coach jerking during stops) are exactly the ones that make people drive/fly. My last 2AC journey by Rajdhani to Hyd was a tough one too. I had the berths closer to the door. It’s just a Lower/Upper berth/seat configuration facing the train wall, meaning, you can’t even stretch your legs while seated. Never felt like a 2AC at all.
As for train running times and actual status, I rely on the ‘Live Train’ app. So far, 100% of the time it’s shown the right timings, right platform numbers and the right count of where my coach is, from the engine side.
Whilst the railways have improved a lot over the past years (clean platforms, clean coaches at origin, food delivery at seats etc.) they still have a long way to go.
Here's what BHPian apachelongbow had to say about the matter:
My only train journey in recent history (meaning the last two decades) was the Delhi Mumbai Tejas last April. In short, it was a fast (between 130 to 140 kmph) journey, with seamless acceleration, bang-on timing and very neat interiors with spotless linen. The TC actually has a connected tablet to check tickets, the food was average, but sufficient and timely.
I had assumed that IR had really, really improved based on my experience, until I read the above posts.
Here's what BHPian Malyaj had to say about the matter:
Just returned from Aleppey / Cochin trip and had mixed experiences.
Bangalore to Ernakulam North - 16526 Kanyakumari Express
Coach - 2nd AC
We were unlucky to get the 2nd AC coach (HA1) which was shared with the first AC (half-half). There were two more coaches A1 and A2 which were further away and newer, but somehow we always get saddled with the worst coaches and seats.
Horrible, ancient, jerky coach that rammed into the coach behind it every time the train started from a standstill or accelerated. Couldn't catch a wink during the night. The curtains looked like they had been salvaged from debris. Extremely run-down surroundings all over. AC was meh.
Return journey 16319 SMVB Humsafar Express
Coach - 3rd AC
This time coach was newer, the interiors better and the coach not jerky. We got seats 71/72 near the door, which was jammed and passengers struggled to open it all night. Again couldn't sleep for a second. The following morning coffee and breakfast vendors kept walking up and down every minute with their announcements and it got really irritating. Why do we need these services literally every minute? What a racket.
On the bright side, both trains were more or less on time, and the linen was spotlessly clean.
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