JUN 2, 15 .. NIGHT TRAIN NORTH TO NEW DELHI .. AND MORE ..
I left Agra Cantt late last night .. June the 1st .. and arrived back in New Delhi shortly after midnight today .. June the 2nd.
As I like to do .. I was at the station and on the platform waiting for my train forty (45) five minutes early at 8:30PM. The Shatabdi Express was due to leave at 9:15PM.
First we were advised the train was delayed and would leave at 9:40PM. Then the word was it would leave at 10PM. We actually left about 10:15PM one hour late. In the heat of the evening and the stress of not knowing just when the train would actually appear .. I became fatigued in spite of a super easy day of just working on my two websites and simply chilling out in my room packing and resting.
Here is fatigued: I had to be SHAKEN AWAKE OUT OF A SOUND SLEEP WITH THE TRAIN COACH ALMOST TOTALLY EMPTY when I was in New Delhi. This is a first ever for me. I never have slept that hard sitting up in a train seat. I was shocked and half-awake. This is an extremely dangerous situation .. being ‘groggy’ and semi-alert what with all of the neer-do-wells flocking at and around all of the arriving passengers starting with yours truly!
Long story short .. I did not tip over or die!
Some scenes I photographed as I waited in Agra Cantt ..
Because I was very early to my platform .. I was lucky to have a seat exactly like the two ladies you see in the above photo directly across from me.
Do you see them sitting beside the structural column in the distance? So luckily I did not have to stand for over an hour.
Looking across the tracks at the main waiting area in the Agra Cantt station.
The engine(s) of two arriving trains.
A freight train rolling through the station.
It was good to finally see The Shatabdi Express!
Aboard and rolling ..
In the center of each coach is the above table arrangement. I don’t know how they assign people to these tables since I knew-for-a-fact they were not one group of people who knew one another.
The two young men on the right in white T-Shirts were from Estonia in Europe and assisted me to get my bag into the overhead luggage rack.
Some things never seem to change for me. I seem to always enjoy the train meals.
Something .. it was just one bite .. in one of the dishes on the right (Indian Dal at the top and roasted Chicken on the bottom) was SO SPICY HOT!! that it took-my-breath-away. I asked the waiters for extra curd (yogurt on the top left). They were so kind as to bring me two (2) extra containers of curd. That put the fire out!
I mix the dishes on the right into the white rice on the lower left and then spoon the mixture onto the unrolled Chapatis in the center.
The main floor in the New Delhi Railway Station after 12 0’clock midnight.
Today I spent an hour with my friend Jeevan as he left New Delhi to travel South back to Agra Cantt. Jeevan came to New Delhi early Monday morning hours ahead of my night train.
Below are some more train station scenes.
The first three photos below are of an arriving New Delhi area commuter train.
The commuter trains are jam-packed with passengers. I nearly got run-over!
Have a few people!
Have a little luggage! OH MY! ARE YOU MOVING?!
A game of cards on the platform floor helps to pass the time!
I realized when I looked at the above photos I had my camera setting incorrect and too dark. So I shot the below photo. Same game with the same table cloth but different players. I must say this: the train riding Indians really make it work for them no matter the heat or the delays! They are very amiable and friendly and just go-with-the-flow!
Out we go to the train platforms in New Delhi. There are lots of steps!
There are steps DOWN!
And there are steps UP!
Now we are on the platform proper.
The beggars never ever stop!
Now pause .. Deep breath .. and look again at the below seating on my train.
BELOW IS HOW THE MAJORITY OF INDIANS TRAVEL ON THE TRAINS!
I did NOT say all of them travel this way. The majority however do.
No air conditioning and pretty well packed together. No reserved seating either.
A photo of Jeevan who boarded early before his compartment was filled to capacity.
It was because I was with Jeevan and I was not burdened down with my own luggage that I was able to snap the above photos today.
Tomorrow I fly to Hong Kong .. I am ready to go ‘home’!
Smiles .. Cap ..
Just now .. I walked down the stairs of my Hotel Capital Residency ..
And I walked to the New Delhi Railway Station ..
And I went to the Food Court inside the station and ordered my meal!
Very nice men. The man on the right above cooked my SPICY CHICKEN NOODLES for me ..
Another fun activity!! Another feel good exerience.
Ever More Smiles .. Cap ..
8 thoughts on “JUN 2, 15 .. NIGHT TRAIN NORTH TO NEW DELHI .. AND MORE ..”
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How you get around with all the people, heat and so on and so forth is beyond me. I give you credit for maneuvering your way from here to there and everywhere.
Thanks so much Shaddy .. To be honest .. it is getting to be more and more of a challenge with this age thing creeping upon me. Couple that with this heat and I encounter one big WHEW! I made another trip .. WHEW! .. Cheerio .. Cap ..
Tuesday, June 2, 2015 – 10:30 am So Cal
Hi Cap,
A question for you: in regard to the photos you took on the train, it appears that there are two classes, First (luxury) and second class – is that accurate? I assume that in the car with 3 high back chairs was First class? And the car with straight back seats, but not separated was 2nd class. A second question for you regarding the “Shatabdi Express”, did I understand your comment that this train was all “First Class”? I was just curious on how you traveled because I believe you mentioned in some much earlier comments on your train travel you had to secure your luggage in the cabins while traveling. With all the crowds you encountered you certainly had to feel and be safe. It was very nice that you noted most folks were very friendly and helpful! Nifty!
On to hockey, the Blackhawks and Lightning play game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Wednesday evening. Will you be able to watch the game on the “Tellie”?
Enjoy your fllght to Hong Kong! The recent news last night noted that over 2,200 folks had passed away from the tremendous heat that is ongoing in India! I know you love India and all the people there, but it probably is a nice feeling to be back in your “home” of HK!
I am looking forward to more great photos and stories from HK and wherever you are headed next!
zilla
‘Zilla .. First this name .. Shatabdi .. applies to a fleet of trains in India. There is NOT just one train with the name Shatabdi Express.
All of the passenger coaches on the Shatabdi Express Trains are air conditioned period. It is a super premier train. The Shatabdi Trains do have two classes however. You have Air Conditioned Chair Car which is what I ride in and have shown photos of recently. Then one class up you have Air Conditioned First Class on the Shatabdi trains. The big difference is more room in First AC. Two wider chairs on each side of the aisle. In the AC Chair class you have five seats wide .. Two on one side and three on the other side of the aisle.
With the Shatabdi train class you also have the Rajdhani Class which are the ultimate in high class train travel in India. You also have an extreme class that I have never gone near called .. I think .. a Heritage Train that is wildly expensive.
On the other Indian trains you have MANY classes .. First AC .. Second AC two tier .. Second AC three tier .. Second Class .. Sleeper .. and maybe more even.
No ‘Zilla .. NO ice hockey on TV. NO NBA basketball final series games either .. they just do not exist here on TV. Do you in California watch Indian Cricket matches? And these premium final series games I DO MISS when here ..
Another day another flight .. YES I will be happy to be back in Hong Kong ..
Smiles .. I hope I covered your questions my friend .. Cap ..
Wednesday, June 3, 2015 – 10:30 am So Cal
Hi Cap,
An update for you regarding Cricket. Yes we do have India Cricket on the “Tellie” here in California. In additional recently NBCSP showed all the “Premier” Soccer games for the season. In fact the Finals were recently showed – two weeks ago (?) and all games were showed on 10 TV channels all day! Pretty amazing! In fact replays are now being showed again for the final games.
I know you are a great fan of sports – even watching some games on TV, but not necessary a fan of watching TV in general. As you know, the States sometimes goes overboard on the number of channels we have available here – last count close to 1,000 channels for viewing in our area – and most are on 24/7. So it’s not surprising that we are able to see Cricket in our land of round door knobs!
Thank you for the details of train travel in India! You answered all my questions. Have fun and much joy in HK!
Zilla
Happy to hear the night train got you safely from Agra to Delhi. The meals always look SO good!! And now … back to Hong Kong tomorrow. I must admit, I will be glad that you will be out of the India heat. Love, Patti
Thank You My Dear One .. YOU and I will be happy when I am back in Hong Kong. Another travel day .. time to refocus and get into gear. Hum-m-m-m .. it seems that just the day before yesterday I had to focus .. and get into gear again to come up to New Delhi. Yes to the meals .. Smiles and Love and we will talk soon .. as in now .. Love Cap ..
Well, you certainly had a nicer train station that I did. BUT! I had a young Brahma bull to pet at mine–and give the guide a heart attack….