Train Travails
Over the past fortnight I endured 4 train journeys. I usually like train journeys. They offer the luxury of watching the world zip by, catch up on reading, catch up on sleeping and of course sample the variety of food peddlers who constantly wander through the train. But if I say that I endured the train journeys, you’ve realized that I didn’t enjoy them this time around.
2 of my trips were in the 3 tier AC & two of them in the 2 tier AC. Suddenly the 3 tier AC feels very crowded (or am I getting old?) and there forever seems to be some confusion with the TC and a few fellow passengers who follow the TC to every seat in the hope of pouncing on any available seat.
Comparatively the 2 tier AC feels nice (sans the crowds) but the one thing that is common is the level of cleanliness. Both are equally bad leaving a lot to be desired. Though folks tell me that the cleanliness level is improving, I am yet to experience it. I wonder why this is difficult in a 2 tier compartment where only 46 people travel. Surely 46 people can’t generate so much of a stink in 12 hours? But you never can be sure. 
I really wish this improves because train journeys leave such great memories. Our childhood travels are full of them. Those days there was first class with coupe’s ensuring complete privacy. My brother & me used to have a ball playing all through the journey.
Though we tend to take a flight more regularly these days, I am hoping that my daughter gets to experience her share of memorable train journeys.
Tags: train
