TRIP Report dated 22-03-2012 from Howrah to Puri.
A Trip planned to my Favourite Short Distance Amusement,Recreation and some Time OFF from the Hassles and Politics of Office Environment is venture out to PURI.
And due to some Pre-Occupied adjustments with my 17 month Old Daughter we had to Book in 1A Class and the option came down to PURI Express ONLY. But my choice to PURI has always been the Weekly Trains that depart at 2055pm from Howrah and reaches Puri at 6Am next day.Reason is Handy Departure time after
office hours and Extremely Punctual arrival Time at 6AM at PURI and before the intercity and Duronto from PURI Starts and given preference between the SINGLE LINE section PURI - Delang....
Read more... 12837 Puri express is always made to Halt at Delang to By-Pass 12278 Puri-HWH Duronto (A video attached here).Also a Fresh Morning Breeze of the Sea is mighty Refreshing.22201 Sealdah - Puri Duronto Nowadays given an Extra advantage to passengers like us but as we stay at
Santragachi and reaching sealdah will be Tough and time Consuming for us, hence NOT Chosen while Jagannath is my last Preference as it can incur Late from HWH itself due to its RSA with 12859 Gitanjali express.
However when i reached the Howrah Station New Complex at 2155pm, the Display Boards was showing 12837 Puri Express was to depart from P-22 but still no trace of the arrival of the empty rake.Then i thought of roaming here and there around the platforms.2884 Ripasi bangla Express was hosted at P-21, 8002 Kandari Exp at P-17, Empty rake of 58011/58013 HWH - CKP/BKSC Passenger was announced to be arriving on P-19 while 8615 Hatia Express was scheduled for Departure from P-23 and 5611 LTT-GHY Karmabhoomi was announced to host at P-12.The Coach display Boards was already showing the Coach positions and we moved to our Displayed
Alloted Coach HA2 by 2205pm when we saw a KGP WDM-3A hauled the Empty rake into P-22.Before that i enquired about the Chart and reservation status of that date and found No Vacancy in any AC Class while there were some 2 or 3 empty berths available (as per the chart) in S-3,S-6,S-7 while the passenger queue to board the GN class (which will be at the rear of the train) was really Long and extended till A-1 coach.
We boarded our Coach HA2 which was 98 built(Not surprised to see the year of built) as i already knew that there isn't any Composite (1A+2A) Coaches in SER and hence had to adjust with those OLD fashioned facilities in 1A.As we entered our coach,we were surprised that the Lights were Newly fitted and Bed Linen was already placed and adjusted on our berths by the Attendant.Our train left Sharp at 2235pm and was slowly gliding thru the main line.As we were passing Tikiapara, noticed 5611 LTT-GHY stuck in the signal and Empty rake of 18047 Amravati was seen behind 5611 waiting to get clearnce.It was Moving at around 45 -50kmph till SRC which crossed around 2255pm and took Reverse Middle just before Andul to make a hasty Move to reach KGP as early as possible.Amazing speed
after that as we reached Mecheda at 2335pm Flat in 1 hour from Hwh(59kms);40 mins from SRC(51kms) and 35 mins from Andul(46kms).Reached KGP around 0020am but didn't step out of the coach as it was locked by the Attendant. Asked him if i can open that but advised that they are not advised to open the doors unless there are passengers scheduled to board the coach and hence cam eback to my berth and fallen sleep in 10 mins.left KGP around 0030 am.
