Sunday, 26 June 2011

Delhi to Bangalore - leg 1 of train based vacation June/July 2011

This is the first part of the train journey based travel, summer 2011, that I undertook. As with most things in life, the planned trip is Delhi - Bangalore - Kottayam/Kerala - Cochin/Kerala - Mangalore - Bangalore - Thivim/Goa and thence back to Delhi. In all classes and kinds of trains.

The first leg is by 2nd Sleeper non-aircon on the Hazrat Nizamuddin - Yasvantpur Karnatak Sampark Kranti Express, IR number 12650. The Sampark Kranti series of trains provide fast connections between States and Delhi, with minimal stoppages en route in other states. This is a great boon for those who know what it is like on Indian Railway trains, especially for en route passengers causing joy to the long-distance passengers.

Also posted by me on the IRFCA forums here:-
http://forum.irfca.org/showthread.php/7590-Hazrat-Nizamuddin-to-Yasvantpur-by-Karnatak-Sampark-Kranti-Express

Photos are up here, this is my favourite from the trip, there are many more in th stream near it:-

http://www.flickr.com/photos/vm2827/5868245063/in/photostream

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This leg performed solo. Company included youngsters heading to join work in Bangalore, a retired Air Force person travelling home after meeting family in Delhi and a school teacher off with her son who was also joining work. And a space cadet.
I selected this train mainly because not having travelled on the Hyderabad-Bangalore line, the urge to do so during the daylight hours was imperative, and only this train gave me the opportunity. In addition, the SK Express trains have fewer stoppages en route, and that is important for me too, lesser too-and-fro of new people en route.
Departure Nizamuddin early in the morning at 0645 on the 23rd of June 2011, my son dropped me, and I took his rayBan sunglasses along with me, wise decision. The usual chaos at the station outside with taxiis/autos blocking the whole area, there are many arrivals into this station in the morning, quite a feat to wade through.

Made it to the departure Platform 7 just a few minutes before the train started rolling, departure boards don't work too well at what used to be a premium railway station at one time, and the whole area is a disgrace. Train was stopped right after it started rolling, and then left at about 0650, trundling or rather ambling along through the garbage which is a constant all the way to Agra.
Electric engine, WAP4, my coach was towards the rear, and I could not get number.  Maybe the photos I have up at http://www.flickr.com/vm2827 will help.
I was travelling in Second Sleeper class, weather report promised good monsoon weather after Agra, but we were about 2 hours late by the time we reached Agra, and the sun was really hot and out. Got a decent shot of train over train just before we entered Agra. Stopped on one of the non-platform tracks and overtook the Nizamuddin-Kolhapur train there.
The reason for this delay was the usual congestion ex-Delhi and some heavy work just before Agra. Anycase, after Agra, the train started really pelting, and the weather improved to cloudy with drizzle and some thundershowerrs too. First stop Jhansi, after which we overtook the Punjab Mail at a wayside station, and then crossed the returning Shatabdi well before Bhopal.
Some UP Police staff boarded the train on their way to Bhopal, and tookover some seats and berths in an arrogant manner, which people tolerate because I guess that is what we are. Police travelling is a regular feature on this route, but nowhere else are they as rude towards poor people.
We were still about 90 minutes late into Bhopal, after which it became dark on our way to Nagpur. The Bhopal - Itarsi - Nagpur stretch is full of forests, and some day needs to be done during the day, too.
Travelling by Sleeper Class after a long time, this coach was in good shape, recently disinfected so absolutely no insects or rodents and most everything in good shape. Some rowdies had destroyed the recharge points in ALL the coaches. Wheel noise was minimal, actually the fans made more hum, and full marks to the cleaning and sanitation crew en route.
Quaity of food served onboard is miserable, regular travellers seem to know it, and either bring their own or order ahead - delivery onboard is done in Bhopal and Nagpur, as I observed.
After Bhopal starts the beautiful dark part of India, including a banker (two more electrics . . .) episode which was done very rapidly at a small wayside station, where we got the most amazing jamuns to eat. It is pitch dark here, and I got good cooperation from people, asking them to switch off lights so that we could see the stars. - and pointing some out to them. Was fast asleep while the train was at Nagpur, but some youngsters who had ordered pizza delivery gently woke me up to offer me a slice.
Had a very comfortable sleep with brilliant cool weather throughout. Woke up next morning at Kazipet, where the train has a technical stop, and is boarded by a large number of official looking people, mostly security forces travelling in civilian clothes, who distribute themselves over the train. They do not look too happy or confident.
Train ambled into Kacheguda (Hyderabad) about 30 minutes behind schedule, slowing down a lot on the byepass line, and then stopped there for a good 30 minutes as the traction was changed to diesel. Kacheguda Station is very impressive, very clean, and serves good breakfast - simple idlis, vadas and dosas.Also a Cafe Coffee Day. Matter of fact, all stations on this route are kept very clean, and serve some decent fresh cooked food or the other. Lemon rice, channa vadas, lassi, coconut water, and fresh fruit. None of the pudi-aaloo samosas reheated multiple times.
Once out of Hyderabad, it was flat terrain, hot and sunny till Kurnool, after which the weather and terrain changed to green and rocky minor mountains. At Dharmavaram we were slightly ahead of time despite single line halts, there was a huge contingent of forces who were camped apparently standing bye for something, probably to do with Sai Baba's ashram. The SK Express does not take the loop to the Ashram P Nilayam,so we continued on direct through Penugonda and Hindupur, finally coming to a long halt at Yelahanka,so that the train could enter Yasvantpur (Bangalore) about on time.
Notes:-
1) Eunuchs are found on three sectors here: ex-Delhi, ex-Hyderababd and prior Bengaluru.
2) There appears to be atleast 3-4 hours slack built into the timetable for this train.
3) Indian railways should really think of taking feedback from Sleeper Class pax also.
4) Something has to be done about the food served onboard. It appears to be a waste lugging the pantry car all the way.
5) The garbage along track situation is terrible. Some shram dan or solution has to be found. Tea-coffee should go back to kullads, and garbage disposal needs to be controlled.
6) Something is very wierd with the waiting list system. This train was shwoing full in all classes for months in advance but was actually running at about 80% occupancy - even lower after Hyderabad.
7) Quality of coach external paint is terrible - this is done by hand now? Even the straight lines are wavy.
8) Cost of ticket 546/- booked online at http://www.irctc.co.in . . . bought food and water en route for about 300/- rupees.

Next leg: Yasvantpur to Kottayam (Kerala) by GR, with the lady wife, on the 26th night. What's GR? Read the next blog . . .

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