Aug 09, 2010 03:38 PM
45796 Views
(Updated Aug 09, 2010 04:08 PM)
Recently, I traveled in Ranchi Rajdhani Express train.
This train has been allotted the oldest coaches by the Railway. Even before you enter this train the sarcastic external look will make you feel too bad.
The Train ,2459 , starts from Ranchi at 1710 hours and reaches by 1050 the next day to the New Delhi Railway station.
I found the train charged with AC temperature when I entered at 1645 on 07 Aug 10. But I did not like the foul smell inside the compartment. I feel there was no insect fogging done as I found so many mosquitoes here and there.
The looking glass was so dirty that I could not have a proper view of the outside world. It was an eye straining affair indeed.
When the train started in time, we all were served mineral water bottles. On careful inspection of the bottle we found seal of all the 6 bottles broken ! When we all opposed to it, the waiter presented a starring view to us. with some protest from all the co passengers he replaced with a sealed one after he distributed water bottles to all `other` passengers of the coach.
There was a provision for the Emergency exit from the train. But the procedure to operate was printed so light that it was good for nothing.
The AC outlets were only few which was not at all sufficient for so many passengers in a compartment. One can not keep the charger for mobile for un -attended charging - annoying indeed in a long journey train like the Rajdhani.
My daughter, by mistake spilled the soup on the floor. I had to struggle a lot to get it cleaned.
When I went for toilet I found the mug missing in both the toilet and the overhead fan not running.
When the eatables started coming in we faced many small anomalies like fork missing or one of the item missing from one of the plates. When I demanded coffee I was given the sachet when all finished their tea. I feel, the waiter does this to discourage the passenger to demand the same in the next tea break.
The Public Address System had a volume which was heard by none. I noticed the same accidentally !! this means we did not have privilege of any announcement in this train.
The taste of the dinner was average. They provided us ice cream as the sweet after the dinner was over. Though the other option of Gulab Jamun is more preferred. As I did want to spoil my kid`s throat, I and my wife did away with the ice cream by returning it to the waiter.
The train got late by more than four hours.
It was limit of the catering administration when he provided half filled `bean biriyani` at 1530 hours. we were not provided the free water bottles. As per rule book you are suppose to get a water bottle after each 20 hours of journey. On asking the same to the waiter, he misbehaved. I raised the written complaint to the Catering manager. I have attached the scanned copy to this review.
At the end, the approach to each passenger for the `Tip`. How shameless it is ?
But, I shall continue to travel in this train as this one is the safest one for the Naxal infested Jharkhand !!
