#PKV5
Continuing with my series of travelogues by IR trains, I shall now dwell on the journeys I have undertaken by various Shatabdi Expresses, the second in the list of premium trains introduced by IR in 1987. I have till date travelled by the following Shatabdis :
a) 12002 New Delhi Bhopal Shatabdi Express (one-way)
b) 12008 Mysore-Chennai Shatabdi Express (one-way)
c)...
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12016 Ajmer-New Delhi Shatabdi Express (one-way)
d) 12019 Howrah-Ranchi Shatabdi Express (both ways)
e) 12028 Bangalore-Chennai Shatabdi Express (both ways)
f) 12029 New Delhi-Amritsar Swarna Shatabdi Express (one-way)
g) 2028 Pune-Mumbai Shatabdi Express (now defunct)
The first of these trips was on the 9th of August, 1992, by what is undoubtedly the fastest train in India. I would however like to avoid epithets like KING, QUEEN, MINISTER etc. for trains as such branding is not only JUVENILE and CHILDISH but also fraught with elements of controversy.
Interestingly, since I was to visit Bhopal for unit inspection of one of the companies financed by my employer SBI, I had to submit my tour programme in advance for approval. While the flight to Delhi on 8th August (a Saturday) was approved, my boss initially did not consent to my proposal to proceed to Bhopal by Shatabdi. He wanted me to avail a flight from Delhi. But as an avid railfan, even then, I was in favour of my maiden trip by a Shatabdi Express. It took all my persuasive skills to get him to agree as I promised him that I would be back in office on the 10th of August (Monday) and there would be no material change in my return to headquarters. And to placate him, I travelled to Bhopal by Shatabdi, completed my inspection and boarded an Indian Airlines flight therefrom to Kolkata at 10 pm. Thus, I could reach Kolkata at midnight and join office on Monday morning (10th August). Incidentally the IA flight to Kolkata scheduled to take off from Bhopal (STD 1940) was, as customary, delayed and departed at 10 pm.
The journey by the NDLS-Bhopal Shatabdi departing at 6.15 am and reaching Bhopal bang on time at 1.50 pm was an awesome experience. The food served was excellent be it breakfast or lunch. The travel by India’s fastest contraption on wheels was exciting and thrilling, to say the least. For the railfan in me, it was a dream come true and I shall cherish the memories of that trip for all time to come.