INDIAN TRAINS - TRAVELLING COMFORTS

Indian Trains – Some valuable information for tourist

This is a report from Greeshma Gopal Giri about the experiences of Valsala Balakrishnan a regular night train traveler. …. And they are indeed conforming to my less frequent night train trips. In this case not the western view but the Indian view is reflected, but in correlation


“Dirty compartments, stinking toilets, creeping and crawling creatures, filthy bedrolls, untouchable bed covers are standard (exception may be Kovai Express)
In most trains you simply cannot escape the stinking loos. Also cockroaches and rats roam around sending you scurrying for cover. Besides it is a good idea to carry your own bedding, else you could be offered filthy blankets, pillows and bed sheets. Passengers have filed complained multiple times, but they have apparently fallen into deaf ears


Take Alleppey Express (Tr No 6042) which leaves from Chennai each day. After the train reaches the platform, the beddings kept on the platform are kept in bundles on the extremely dirty surface ( spitting on the floor is a sign of still being alive in India and experienced with passionate high frequency and astonishing bass tones after deep rouspring…. I know this from the office I am working, but at least they spit in the pissoir)
When the swine flue scare had gripped the country, the railways had made some attempts for fogging the trains. But this was limited to the trains that travelled to the affected areas. After the fears died the fogging stopped too.
The Egmore – Rameswaram Express and the Pearl City Express are no different, cockroaches and rats pop up from every corner. When asked rail authorities reel out statistics of cockroaches and rats killed.”

We reserve tickets in sleeper class for a better journey and have some rest in the night. During the day we can somehow manage, but after the lights are switched off the rats come out, they even bite the baggage.