So my journey experience from Delhi to Prayagraj on 10th February, 2025. This is part 2, from Kanpur Central to Prayagraj Junction.

So after reaching Kanpur Central from Delhi through Ayodhya Vande Bharat I planned my AC First class journey in Chauri Chaura Express from Kanpur Central to Jhusi (my nearest home station), it was waiting 5 and I expected it to get confirmed but waiting at Kanpur Central was a tedious task for me and to wait from 11 in the morning to 5 in the evening was absolutely hectic....
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So I decided for another alternative option and quickly found a confirm current ticket in 04153 Kanpur-Bhagalpur special train, from Kanpur to Prayagraj Jn. in 3rd AC.

So the train which was supposed to depart at 1400 hours, was shunted to Platform 4 with CNB WAG-9 at 1345 hours and gates were opened at 1355 hours. I had ordered my lunch from swiggy earlier and it was delivered right on time as I had heard horror stories of quality of food being served at Kanpur Central.

After entering my coach and btw they haven't had switched on the AC, an argument broke out between my fellow passengers over the seats, the guy from Family 1 checked the tickets of Family 2, confirming that family 2 was traveling on the right date, in the right train and in the right coach and after Family 2 asked him to show their tickets he revealed his family had a ticket from Prayagraj Jn to Bhagalpur but due to intense crowd at Prayagraj Jn, they had decided to board at Kanpur Central (I mean, WOW!). So after getting kicked out from their 'supposed' seats from Prayagraj Jn they took on other seats including mine LOL, and when I say 'they', I mean 14 adults and 6 children (with reserved tickets of only 12 people, as I later found out) and also huge amount of luggage.

So these Bhagalpuri family started putting their luggage on my seats and few of them even sat there, I who was waiting at the door arrived and asked them to move away, at first they were like "thoda adjust kar lijiye" and I said "nahi karenge" with big fake smile as I was adamant and frustrated after enduring ugly passengers in Ayodhya Vande Bharat and with no rest even in the AC waiting hall, hence I was in no mood to give my Side Lower to anyone. Although they were slightly nice people as the responsible person who was checking tickets of Family 2 came to my seat and asked his family members to vacate my seat as there were many seats vacant and they can adjust there. So finally I got my SL for myself to stretch my legs and maybe even to take a nap but these people were kinda asshole especially the women and children, they were giving me so much of disgusted looks, that made me think had I taken over their seat?, also if there was a little space left near my legs, they would keep on coming and seating there or just throw their shawls or jackets at that space. I was so ready to fight but the main man keeps coming back and shooing away his family members from my seat, so I decided not to bother myself as after half an hour the journey started they all got settled and they weren't making any noises afterwards.

Now the train which was supposed to depart at 1400 hours departed at 1430 hours after giving overtakes to Northeast Express,Bhubaneswar SF and Seemanchal Express. The AC was only started at the time the train started it's journey, so basically I was packed in a coach with no AC on and people ready to pounce on my seat. So after the journey started things were moving smoothly, train was constantly doing 100kmph with Mahananda Express and Netaji Express trailing behind as no loops were empty for an overtake by these trains.

One more thing, railways never provided us with a bed roll, I asked the TTE, vendors and even complained on Rail Madad app but they dismissed it immediately. And those who are wondering, yes the TTE lady came and first scolded the Bhagalpuri family and then took bribe from them outside the coach (how much I don't know, 5000 RS is the answer)

So our train arrived at Bamrhauli outer at about 1730 hours, we even were overtaken by Mahananda Express at Sirathu, where more unreserved passengers entered the coach but no one bothered me, although the halt was of less than 4 minutes, our train halted on the loop line in Sirathu and in maybe two minutes Mahananda Express furiously overtook us and I was afraid that we will wait for Netaji Express as well but we were immediately given green from Sirathu. So even after reaching Bamrhauli, part of Prayagraj City itself and two stations away from Prayagraj Jn, it took our train 1 and half hours to reach Prayagraj Jn, this was the most frustrating part of the journey and I was debating whether I should deboard here only but since I was carrying two heavy luggages, I decided not to and though I will get something easily from the main Junction itself to Jhusi (spoiler alert, I was wrong).

So after our train reached Prayagraj Jn, I saw the huge amount of crowd waiting at the platform, even with the RPF standing at each door of the trains, the crowd was is no mood of listening to them. It was a struggle even to deboard from the train and more struggle to land my foot on the platform, I was literally carried out by the huge rush to the other side of Platform where Prayagraj-Gaya Special was waiting for departure being fully packed upto the brim. I was honestly so worried about my phone in the pocket but luckily we both survived. But the train didn't....

The train got absolutely full, what first AC, what Second AC, all you could see were people getting squeezed in that train and at that moment I felt bad for that Bhagalpuri family, hopefully they had rest between Kanpur and Prayagraj.

So after getting out of the station which was more easy than getting out of the train, I started looking out for Rapido, but BOY! OH BOY! , these guys are on hunt of looting passengers, there were so many of bikers available outside the station, many from different districts and they were demanding 800rs for Jhusi, 800 for 10kms? Really? FUCK YOU!
This is where my patience finally gave away and I started clicking their number plates and sending it to RTO whatsapp number that was published in newspaper to complain about overcharging, and I'm proud that today 12 bikes were seized and 30 bikers were fined, including few of them of whom I complained about. (Best part of the journey for me)

Then I actually called my brother to come pick me up from civil lines, and I walked my way to Paradise confectionary where I had my favourite pudding and bitched with fellow Prayagi on how these bikers gang, and rickshaws driver are actually defaming the name of our city by overcharging and harassing devotees and passengers.

Now after zig-zagging my way through the crowd and taking all the dust I can, I finally reached home at 9pm, while I had started my journey at 5 am from Ghaziabad, and to conclude I can say, it was one hell of a journey and I hope I don't have to repeat it ever again.