The metro took an hour. I finally reached NDLS. It was hectic and definitely not laidback when compared to most trains. The primary spot was taken by DBRT bound Rajdhani via LKO. Gomti was at PF 12, I think, with it's rake already done in. The doors were still locked apart from general coaches. I had come via the same train in 1A but was going via 2S. I didn't even get a window seat. My aisle seat's reclining function was permanently broken so it was in a reclined position by default.

The...
more...

train was moderately full at NDLS and I was able to get a spot at the door. I footplated for sometime upto GZB. There was a chainpulling, I think, as well and the train stopped atleast 3 times b/w NDLS and GZB. The newly running rakes b/w Sahibabad and Duhai Depot are visible from rail tracks for some time and they were running almost empty, in contrast to rest of Delhi metro.

At GZB, a ton of crowd came and it became almost nightmarish. Folks standing in vestibules, sitting all over the bay area, [ there were folks sitting on the floor next to me literally blocking any and all access to the bathroom]. The same situation continued atleast upto ETW. The train fortunately, wasn't too late that day[no OT by Tejas for once]. It did suffer couple of other overtakes and trolling at CNB outers but it left CNB with relatively emptier insides and on time. As again, as soon as the train entered inside Lucknow and stopped somewhere b/w Manaknagar and LKO, few folks jumped into the wilderness. I didn't footplate now because I knew that despite being the terminal station, people are stupid and someone or the other will want to jump out of the running train still[ it has happened far too many times for me to have faith on general public anymore; people are willing to literally give a limb just to deboard closer to a foot overbridge].

No TTE ever comes in 2S coaches. They remain ensconced in 1A/2A/CC class only. Ironically, even 1A isn't immune to random people boarding it. On UP side, going from LKO-NDLS, a guy boarded the train from CNB outers upto CNB in 1A and another lady boarded the coach from around ETW, I think.