TRIP REPORT of my Journey Experience on Amritsar - Howrah Mail via Saharanpur - Rae Bareli - Patna - Madhupur :-
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My Parents and I have enjoyed this train journey very much . It had ran at good speed between Amritsar and Moradabad by being hauled by a GZB WAP-5 Loco . We had dinner after Phagwara Jn which was Home made food by our relatives. It made an unofficial halt at Khanna Jn after which we slept . I woke up on the next day when the train reached at Moradabad...
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Jn where it had a loco change & the WAP-5 was replaced by a WDP-4 uptil Mughalsarai. I did not see the loco but it's horn whistle surely sounded like a dippy that too in absence of the chugging sounds which Alco Diesel Locos make.
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We had breakfast in the morning when the train reached at Bareilly Junction. It consisted of Tomato Sauce, Bread with melted butter spread on it and Omlette in Non-Veg where as Vegetable Cutlet in Veg. It ran at a slow speed between Bareilly & Lucknow NR with many unofficial halts due to Signal Clearances and giving pass to various Freight & Passenger Trains including Guwahati Rajdhani Express near Hardoi.
In Lunch we were served with Dal , Rice , Matar - Paneer (Peas & Indian Cheese), Ginger - Potatoes, Roti , Onions, Pickle & Packed Water Glass(Rs. 90) from the Pantry Staff on order . The Dinner (Rs. 90) had the same items with only Matar - Paneer being replaced by White Chanas. The Best MPS Performance by our train was on sections like Ludhiana -Moradabad, Mughalsrai - Patna & Lucknow - Rae Bareli :)
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Our train stopped at Fursatganj Station to give pass to a train coming from the opposite direction due to the Single Track on LKO-RBL-BSB Route . I could see a Pantry Staff Member who sold cold drinks taking breeze by opening our coach's main gate. Our train was late by 1 Hour on reaching at Varanasi Jn. A man boarded from BSB along with his wife & 2 children(1 son & 1 daughter). His children & wife climbed up to the side middle berth while he himself sat in front of me on the side lower berth. They had the other seat got booked in the HA-1 Coach so he insisted on sitting in front of me till I slept. I allowed him to sit in front of me on compassionate grounds as he was a father of 2 small children. They got down at Patna Jn and the time was 10:45 PM(You can think of my legs' condition although that uncle was considerate about my sleep & ready to leave my seat anytime I wanted). I slept after the train departed from Patna but only when another old uncle allowed me to switch off the lights after he prepared his berth for sleeping. He had boarded from Patna Jn. I woke up the next day when our train reached at Asansol Jn and I was told that it was late by 3 Hours due to delays after Patna Jn. Our train was becoming more late by stopping at various places for giving pass to Local Trains coming from the same direction . Due to various slowdowns & unofficial halts , our train was late by 1 more Hour . At Dankuni Jn, it was made to stop for giving pass to Varanasi - Sealdah "Supercrowler" Express which was insulting for our "Mail" train. In totality , it was a good but tiring Experience on this train :-)
Thanks a lot for giving a Patient Reading to my Trip Report :-D
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My marks for this train on the following parameters :-
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1) Security: 9/10 [Guards of good built had boarded the train at Buxar and no unauthorized people were present around our 2nd AC Coach]
2) Food Catering: 8/10 [Good Pantry Food but price of Rs. 90 is very high]
3) Punctuality: 3/10 [ Instead of around 7AM, it reached at 11:00 AM]
4) Speed Performance(MPS Behavior): 4/10 [Speed was average from train's side]
5) Cleanliness: 9/10 [Coach & Toilets were cleaned at MB, LKO & MGS]
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Our 2nd AC Coach was around 2 to 3 years old and looked like an RCF Coach with good hardware maintenance(Unlike KOAA-ASR SF Exp). The Window Curtains & Bedding Material in packets were also clean(Same in case of KOAA-ASR SF Exp). Our train again had a loco change at MGS and the horn whistle suggested that it was a Crimson Red WAP-4 Loco of MGS or HWH Shed.
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PS: This train has improved it's catering service a bit with tasty, fresh & warm food along with attendants in clean cloths & aprons but the punctuality is beyond repair due to addition of many stoppages latest being Gahmer & removal of only 2 stoppages being Phillaur Jn & Ambala City Jn ;-p