Humsafar, here I come.

After almost a decade since it's inception, I finally got to experience the Humsafar. Well, sort of.

I've been in a Humsafar, I've traveled in a Humsafar coach, but...
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I've never been in a Humsafar as it was originally meant to be. So, as soon as I saw the 'Humsafar welcomes you onboard' signage near the door, I realized that the Gods of Trains have bestowed upon me, a original Humsafar coach.

This is the story of my journey onboard 20433, Jammu Mail from Subedarganj to Tundla. As the tradition goes, I waited for the last possible minute to check the IRCTC app, pretty confident that if not anything, Agra Vande Bharat would save me. And my heart sank when I couldn't find my savior on the list, turns out Fridays are day-off for Agra Vande Bharat.

Finally, in a sea of red, I found Jammu Mail with more than 30 seats available. Thinking of the wrath of three other people who entrusted me with ticket bookings thinking me to be some kind of train wizard, I booked the tickets. However, having a not so great experience with public transportation at Tundla during the CoVid era, I was a bit skeptical about my decision to deboard there.

While the train was placed at PF-3, NTES being the pinnacle of technology displayed the train departure from PF-6. The mighty MEMU, 63237 from DDU, which once overtook my Muri Express, was standing at PF-1. We reached PF-3 and I saw the vibrant Humsafar decals on my coach, nothing unusual in recent times. But even before boarding, I noticed the 'Humsafar welcomes you onboard' signage and I realised, I've found the holy grail of originality in IR, where every coach is just a red LHB masquerading as something else.

The coach was furnished with the three-tone interiors, silver Humsafar customized curtains, a coffee machine albeit non functional, a functional pantry cabinet, and trying not to disappoint me- non functional toilet indicators and information display. The coach was clean and well maintained, toilets were clean, and reading lights worked just fine. Did I say something about the Gods of Trains favoring me? Well, I got a SL with well mannered co-passengers. With almost half vacant coach and a minor delay, we set out.

Soon the train picked speed and the WAP-7 unleashed it's horses hitting 130kmph constantly till Khaga. The train crawled all the way through the station, skipping via the mainline. While at the track opposite to us, Subedarganj bound Jammu Mail crossed us at equally slow speed. The train maintained a decent speed till Fatehpur where it came to halt with a negligible delay in IR's terms. After stretching a 2-minute halt to 10 minutes, and the coach getting almost full, the WAP-7 honked and jerked into action.

With nothing else to do while staring at the landscapes basked in the lazy pre-summer sun, I decided to sleep. I woke up while the train was bypassing Kanpur Central via C-Panel. We pulled up before time at Govindpuri at PF-1. Rest of the passengers boarded here and the train got fully occupied. Departing from PF-2 was the Kanpur bound 64588 from Tundla, with a typical MEMU rake from RCF. Starter was given with a delay of 5 minutes, and the train crawled till Bhaupur before hitting MPS. The train showed the NCR's speed show till Etawah and again slowed down.

As customary at Etawah, I walked to the door to take a look. To my surprise, our train was taken on the PF-1 line, even though the mainline through PF-2 was vacant. We crawled through PF-1 and skipped Etawah, returning back to the MPS action. The train started crawling while entering Tundla outers and reached Tundla with a delay of 15 minutes, at PF-4. MEMU from Aligarh, 64154 was standing at PF-6, while it's RSA partner bound for Etawah had departed almost an hour ago.

And as it turned out, unlike the CoVid era, cabs are now available at Tundla, along with autos/e-rikshaws near the church premises, a short walk from the station. Although E-catering is not available at Govindpuri, you can order via Zomato/Swiggy and get the food at your seat. During my journeys in NCR/PRYJ, every time I come across a new type of fencing. A pre-cast fence, regular brick walls, fences made of old sleepers, metal barriers, and this time park-like grating fence.

Pictures show the Humsafar interiors of my coach, welcome decals near the entrance, and the park-like fencing around the tracks.

Thank you for reading.

Kumud.