History shows that Trains started with those healthy horses pulling railed wagons charming it’s way through the streets…. But the gradual transformation and amendments has paved it’s way from Polish steam engines to British 153 class DMU … from Chicago SP freight to German class 423 EMU sets…….. from V43 Hungarian locomotives to Japanese high speed Shinkansen 500 series and finally banking on Monorails….. But amidst all odds Indian Railways had it’s own ethnicity ….. A charm which reminds me of 16th century swashbucklers fighting every prejudice and creating a pride for themselves …… Indian Railways boasts for it’s second largest connectivity in the world…. And sometimes it is said that the present tracks if put back to back, will revolve the Earth twice……
Let me share some of my travelling experiences and tricks I learnt for Indian Railways…….
· No matter when you try to get a ticket, you would invariably find yourself in the waiting list category…. Guess your hard luck or you are always too late to decide for the trip
· Just in case if one do wish to travel in General compartment do not worry ….. it’s served free… you will hardly ever find a checker up there…specially if it’s superfast
· Waiting list ticket??? Indian Railways’ black coats at your service… cost may vary from Rs 200 - Rs 250 for a berth … depending upon your bargaining skills
· Waiting list ticket??? Couldn’t manage the checker??? You might get RPF do the work for you with the bribe ranging Rs 250 – Rs 300… rates might sometimes go down…bargain buddy…..
· Finally if nothing works try out the handicapped compartment with a cash of Rs 300
· Wanna smoke??? Problems with RPF and TTI ….bathrooms at your service… or sometimes people like to smoke standing just below no smoking board…. Bravo Bravehearts …
· Getting bored in general compartment??? Ask for 29…. Sure you gonna get enough players to even stand and play… no matter what the situation, or position is ….always up for 29
· Wanna seat in general compartment??? Pay the coolie Rs 15 - Rs 20 for the wood and Rs 25- 30 for the bunks…. Great sleep …ahhhhh!!!
· Don’t wanna spend extra cash… carry newspaper and find yourself the compartment with some extra space between berths and bathrooms…
· “Hijre”…. beware!!! Be stubborn n arrogant… but don’t shell out a penny on them…. No matter what the pestering is…. One needs to persist
· Oh!! You can always find women washing utensils and men carrying bathing accessories … as if they are in home… what a home at a rent of mere 250 bucks
· And children …. Their allowance is unlimited… they can go anywhere wearing the shoe..even in bed… and of course use the whole train as bathroom…. Anywhere and everywhere….
But in spite of everything railways still remains one of the major transportations in India and the cheapest ………………..
Let me share some of my travelling experiences and tricks I learnt for Indian Railways…….
· No matter when you try to get a ticket, you would invariably find yourself in the waiting list category…. Guess your hard luck or you are always too late to decide for the trip
· Just in case if one do wish to travel in General compartment do not worry ….. it’s served free… you will hardly ever find a checker up there…specially if it’s superfast
· Waiting list ticket??? Indian Railways’ black coats at your service… cost may vary from Rs 200 - Rs 250 for a berth … depending upon your bargaining skills
· Waiting list ticket??? Couldn’t manage the checker??? You might get RPF do the work for you with the bribe ranging Rs 250 – Rs 300… rates might sometimes go down…bargain buddy…..
· Finally if nothing works try out the handicapped compartment with a cash of Rs 300
· Wanna smoke??? Problems with RPF and TTI ….bathrooms at your service… or sometimes people like to smoke standing just below no smoking board…. Bravo Bravehearts …
· Getting bored in general compartment??? Ask for 29…. Sure you gonna get enough players to even stand and play… no matter what the situation, or position is ….always up for 29
· Wanna seat in general compartment??? Pay the coolie Rs 15 - Rs 20 for the wood and Rs 25- 30 for the bunks…. Great sleep …ahhhhh!!!
· Don’t wanna spend extra cash… carry newspaper and find yourself the compartment with some extra space between berths and bathrooms…
· “Hijre”…. beware!!! Be stubborn n arrogant… but don’t shell out a penny on them…. No matter what the pestering is…. One needs to persist
· Oh!! You can always find women washing utensils and men carrying bathing accessories … as if they are in home… what a home at a rent of mere 250 bucks
· And children …. Their allowance is unlimited… they can go anywhere wearing the shoe..even in bed… and of course use the whole train as bathroom…. Anywhere and everywhere….
But in spite of everything railways still remains one of the major transportations in India and the cheapest ………………..
