The inaugural journey of my 13-day railtrip across the western parts of the country
started off on a comfortable note. The Sealdah Rajdhani… specifically chosen as I had never traveled this train
before, and because the food and service is far better than that of the Howrah Rajdhani (which was of course based
on very persistent hearsay).
Got to Sealdah station well in time for the 1635 hrs departure. Did the usual scouting around for timetables but
only managed to get the eastern zone ones, and then made my way to the platform waiting for my travel companion,
IRFCA member Buddhadev Saha.
The train was already at the platform. After finding our coach, we scouted around, checking the rake. The composition
was as follows:
Ghaziabad WAP-7 # 30218, EOG, C1, AS1 - AS7, PC, A1 - A3, H1, EOG. A total of 15 coaches. There was a mix… some
were 2004 stock while some dated as far back as 2000. The loco was reasonable clean, marred by a large swab of
grime on the side. The rake was clean, well maintained and inviting.
We left Sealdah on time. The journey as a whole was unexceptional. The train maintained its schedule. The ride
wasn't spectacular as such. To my mind the speeds really didn't exceed 110, though it's rather difficult to say
from an AC coach. I never really noticed the very quick acceleration, which is natural considering it was headed
by a WAP-7 which would make short work of the 15 coaches behind it. I naturally focused on the food, which I will
detail shortly.
Co passengers were a Bengali family, and (now common) Bangladeshi nationals traveling to Delhi for business or
on medical grounds. A short argument developed, where a co-passenger insisted the train didn't have scheduled halts
at Durgapur and Asansol, which it now does.
I slept like a rock all night, lulled by the comfortable ride. I had asked for a side lower berth, and it was comfortable
enough. The sheets and pillow were clean and crisp, the service very compelling. Not a complaint I had, except
for the dinner served, which was a disappointment.
I did take a walk up to the pantry car. Took a look at the other 3A coaches. Our coach was a 2000 build. These
look better… the backrest does not form the middle berth. There is another fold up berth while one pulls down for
the middle berth. This gives a kind of a 'padded' feel to the compartment. The newer 3A coaches do not have that.
They, like regular sleeper class coaches, have the backrest of the seat lift up to form the middle berth. I admit
this does not look that good, but it does economise. Also, the newer coaches have flaps built into the berths where
one can tuck in the sheets, which, in my mind is a very nice bit of thoughtful detailing. The newer coaches also
sport mirrors, and a table towards the window.
Saw quite a few WAG-9 hauled freights on the way. These green with yellow stripe liveried locos look striking.
We maintained time right until Ghaziabad, where we halted for a long time. A DMU came in from the Delhi side, and
I heard from passengers there was some blockage of tracks near Tilak Bridge and all trains were being delayed.
We never found out what happened, but upon leaving Ghaziabad, the run was decent enough till New Delhi, and we
arrived only about an hour late.
Now a quick take on gastronomic services offered by the courteous staff. RK caterers privately manage the train's
pantry car.
Upon boarding, we were given a cool scented towel (a very nice and refreshing touch). This was followed by evening
tea, comprising of Tea / coffee, lemon flavoured bhujia, chocolate flavoured sohan-papdi, coleslaw sandwich, a
couple of éclairs, a mango flavoured drink and a bottle of drinking water. I noticed that they never offered
coffee, one had to actually ask the staff for coffee sachets. Tea always comprised of two teabags, a flask of hot
water (just barely enough for 2 cups), two sugar and creamer sachets. The sohan-papdi was amusing (chocolate flavour!!!)
and the lemon bhujia surprisingly good. And oh yes… not a sign of kulhars. We got paper cups right through.
Not much later it was dinnertime. I had asked for a continental meal, hoping to get a roast chicken. It all started
tamely, a small packet with 3 breaksticks (I got a dirty one), a cube of Amul butter and tomato soup. So far so
good. I thought a nice tasty meal that could be enjoyed at leisure would follow. I was to be disappointed. The
dinner tray consisted of two slices of bread and a cube of butter, a very nicely done pasta in a mildly cheese
flavoured gravy. What spoilt it was the accompanying chowmein. It was tasteless. The fried chicken that accompanied
it was a real disappointment. Far from being prepared in a continental style, it tasted like the 'tele-bhaja' (fried
in oil) stuff we get in Calcutta's streets, which is called bhajia in other parts of the country. This prompted
me to walk up to the pantry car the next morning and have a word with their Catering Manager. There was also some
salad, and finally a cup of Mother Dairy vanilla ice cream.
Morning tea was as expected… tea as before (or coffee for the insistent), Marie biscuits and more éclairs.
I remember éclairs were always in vogue on the Rajdhani. They would serve a couple of them upon boarding
or before arrival even 20 years ago.
Breakfast was so-so. We decided to order one vegetarian and one non-vegetarian to experiment. The veg breakfast
consisted of 2 cutlets (tasty enough), boiled peas and 3 french fries!!!. Accompanying it was 2 slices of bread
with butter and jam, and another serving of tea / coffee. The non-veg breakfast had an omlette instead of the cutlet,
and boiled carrot in lieu of the French fries (I wonder why).
Service on the whole was decent, efficient and quick. The way the food was served was neat and appetizing. One
tends to get the feelings its good value for money when one travels on this train. |
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looking down the aisle of a 3tier AC coach of the Rajdhani Express.
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EVENING TEA
tea / coffee
lemon flavoured bhujia
chocolate sohan-papdi
coleslaw sandwich
a couple of éclairs
mango flavoured drink bottle of drinking water
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DINNER (NON VEG CONTINENTAL)
tomato soup
breaksticks with butter
two slices bread and butter veg. pasta
veg. chowmein.
fried chicken
salad
vanilla ice cream.
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MORNING TEA
tea / coffee
marie biscuits
éclairs
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BREAKFAST
2 cutlets with boiled peas french fries (veg)
omlette with boiled peas and carrots (non-veg)
2 slices of bread
butter & jam
tea / coffee
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