On that trip, I was in the upper berth of the 2nd AC where the berth opposite mine, was occupied by a non-Indian. I used to have this air pillow that I hated. pulled the plug out and the hissing noise was enough to scare the poor lady. had to fight hard to keep myself from laughing out loud.

craziest experience!! traveling on the Bokaro-Steel City express. old man (75+) tried to get off the train as it was pulling into the platform, misjudged the height of the platform and lost his leg…… I was much younger when I saw that happen. Could never sleep on trains before that and have never slept after that either……

I would take the 2nd class in Bombay local trains over 1st class anyday. I used travelled from Andheri to Thane almost everyday (yes, I took the Western line all the way upto Dadar and Central down to Thane). Initially, I bought a 1st class pass, but then I switched to 2nd class in a month. Passengers in 1st class have a bigger sense of entitlement, and they demand personal space more than 2nd class passengers. 2nd class passengers have a sense of camraderie. 1st class passengers will shout at you if you invade their space. 2nd class passengers will try to make space for you. It was much more difficult for me to get into a 1st class compartment because everyone needs elbow room. I had to take the train that starts from Andheri/Dadar if I wanted to get into a 1st class compartment, whereas in a 2nd class I could squeeze in or atleast get space to hang out of the door. It needs getting used to, but the 2nd class compartment is way better than 1st class even if you can afford the 1st class ticket. Actually, for a month or so, I was travelling 2nd class with my 1st class pass

Speaking of interesting, I had one horrible experience of having my ass grabbed near Mahim in a 2nd class compartment. I bet I was bound to run into a gay perv sooner or later. Once, I was next to 2 guys who were hanging out of the door, wearing clip-on earrings and talking to each other with an effeminate lilt in their speech. As soon as the train arived at the station, they would take of the earrings, switch to masculine voice, get off the train, let everyone climb back on and then get back on. As soon as the train left the station, the earrings and the voice would come back on. It was truly bizzare.

I really enjoy the juxtaposition of the classes in the Bombay local trains. The price difference for a ticket from Bandra to King’s Circle is virtually unaffordable for the average Bombay-ite. Five rupees in second class versus Rs. 70+ (my memory is fuzzy) first class. Most second class riders will say, “in first class, you are being pushed in the same way by more expensive elbows. Tch tch what a waste.” I agree. Plus, there are way more interesting things that happen in the 2nd class compartments.

The biggest thing I learned from riding the trains was the evolution of progress. When I arrived in Bombay in July 04, beyond track 7 of Bandra Station (Harbour Line going to VT) I saw a family that had perhaps just arrived in Bombay. Their shelter consisted of a tent made of plastic and cloth, precariously supported by wooden poles, unevenly. By the time I left in March 06, the same family had turned the tent into a square shed like structure, with 4 walls and a roof. I am sure they still don’t have access to running water, health care, or a toilet and are probably living on land that is not legally theirs; but in the struggle for roti, capra, aur makan, possessing one of them is certainly a start.

In past, you had stand in @ a station booth or use a middle man to buy tickets. Now, they do have a website, and you get an e-ticket, or delivered through a courier. They accept Indian credit cards online too. You can have your online account, but six months ago, it only accepted Indian debit and credit cards.

We all have travelled standing near the toilet, I think it is inescaple if a part of your jouney, one has not booked tickets in well in advance.

Two-three weeks ago, my brother travelled in executive class. He told me only Indians in his coach were politicians. I guess it is quite expensive.

Been there. It was my worst ever train experience in India. Back in the early 90s, I was 19, and my 21 year old cousin and I were travelling around India that summer. Both of us ABDs who, although we could speak Hindi, had no clue how to go about buying tickets or about the different ‘class’ compartments, how to actually get a seat, etc. So I think we were somewhere in Maharashtra, en route from Ajanta/Ellora back to Mumbai where my bua lived. We had to change trains at some tiny town somewhere in rural Maharashtra (Satna?)…when we got off at that station, we ended up spending ELEVEN hours waiting for the Mumbai train…all that time without food or water. We even left the station and went looking for restaurants or dhabas (again, this was a TINY town in the early 90s). For some reason, the 2 or 3 places we tried had all RUN OUT OF FOOD. In the main bazaar, there weren’t even fruits for sale…nothing. The station itself didn’t have a store or a stand selling any snacks or water. So anyway, the train finally rolled in, and we ended up in the 3rd class compartment, full of Bihari laborers en route to Mumbai as well. I literally had to stand near this bathroom (that got progressively more disgusting every 15 minutes) for the WHOLE ride. And the Bihari passengers, most of whom were young, rural guys, gave us the distinct impression that if we looked at them the wrong way, they would all jump us at once. That didn’t make things any more pleasant. After all that, we got caught in a 3 hour traffic jam in Mumbai, from the station to my bua’s house. The shower I took, and the food/water I consumed late that night at her home probably rank as some of the best experiences in my life.

I had to get from Hyderabad to Bombay very urgently. Apparently (and I didn’t know this at the time), when you buy a ticket for a station, it gives you the right to board the train. It doesn’t guarantee you a seat on the train. If you want to reserve a seat, you have to buy the reservation seperately. So, after I bought the ticket, the guy tells me that there are no seats available on the train. I had to get to Bombay on that train, and other people told me that I can nudge nudge wink wink buy a priority seat from the conductor. Well, I got into the train, and the train was packed. People were sleeping on the floor. I couldn’t get to nudge nudge wink wink the conductor, because apparently he had been nudge nudge wink winked enough that I couldn’t find him. So, I spent the whole journey standing near the toilet. In the morning, some nice person let me sit on the “extra seat”, the one where your one ass is on the seat and the other ass is hanging out, and I fell asleep on it.

Hopefully, I didn’t drool on the guy

Priceless!! I have to remember that line.