My first journey by Shatabdi Express
Unlike my other official trips, this trip was planned in advance so fortunately I got tickets to travel by Train. If it’s like 6-10 hrs journey then they give option for either Bus or Train, journey longer than this they give us flight tickets.
So it was Bangalore-Chennai Shatabdi express departing Bangalore at 4:25 PM and reaching Chennai around 9:30 PM. I read somewhere Shatabdi is one of the super class trains run by Indian railways, so was pretty much excited boarding it very first time.
Following Indian Railways tradition the train started 20 minutes late from Bangalore. We were yet to cross Bangalore city and they served snacks. A sandwitch, a Mango drink, samosa and Biscuits. By the time snacks was over, they started serving tea/coffee. I was surprised when my fellow passenger ordered Milk instead. Surprise was not milk, it was for he asking for it in the train. Indian Railways entertaining customized demands, amazing.
By the time snacks trays and other things were cleaned it was 5:45 PM. I was busy admiring nature through tinted glass window and I saw stewards already started serving soup and snacks again. Second surprise. All this got over around 7.
Now people had just started relaxing and stewards were preparing to serve dinner. It was 8:30 PM and I had done with my dinner. Now I was tired seeing 3 rounds of serving-cleaning and simply wanted to rest. As train started late so it has to reach late and my worry was how much sleep I would get in the night. In those thoughts I pulled my blanket and closed eyes. When I was just about to relax with my good night’s sleep, I heard Steward asking me which flavor ice-cream I would like to take Vanilla or Butter scotch? ;)
Journey continued smoothly thereafter without Indian Railways feeding me anything further. During my onwards journey I was not in my full form else I would have ended up eating everything and anything they served irrespective of I am hungry or not. Other than this continuous feeding experience, one of the mentionable thing was the treatment given to the passengers, it was royal.
This reminded me my flight journey from Delhi to Bangalore by Jet Airways. They also keep you busy by feeding something or the other and treat you like king/queen.
All in all I enjoyed my first journey through Shatabdi. Felt truly royal, exceeding expectations type experience.
Journey ended around 10:15. I got down in half sleep mode, thinking of my good journey, my next blog topic and a decision that for return journey I should come empty stomach.
So it was Bangalore-Chennai Shatabdi express departing Bangalore at 4:25 PM and reaching Chennai around 9:30 PM. I read somewhere Shatabdi is one of the super class trains run by Indian railways, so was pretty much excited boarding it very first time.
Following Indian Railways tradition the train started 20 minutes late from Bangalore. We were yet to cross Bangalore city and they served snacks. A sandwitch, a Mango drink, samosa and Biscuits. By the time snacks was over, they started serving tea/coffee. I was surprised when my fellow passenger ordered Milk instead. Surprise was not milk, it was for he asking for it in the train. Indian Railways entertaining customized demands, amazing.
By the time snacks trays and other things were cleaned it was 5:45 PM. I was busy admiring nature through tinted glass window and I saw stewards already started serving soup and snacks again. Second surprise. All this got over around 7.
Now people had just started relaxing and stewards were preparing to serve dinner. It was 8:30 PM and I had done with my dinner. Now I was tired seeing 3 rounds of serving-cleaning and simply wanted to rest. As train started late so it has to reach late and my worry was how much sleep I would get in the night. In those thoughts I pulled my blanket and closed eyes. When I was just about to relax with my good night’s sleep, I heard Steward asking me which flavor ice-cream I would like to take Vanilla or Butter scotch? ;)
Journey continued smoothly thereafter without Indian Railways feeding me anything further. During my onwards journey I was not in my full form else I would have ended up eating everything and anything they served irrespective of I am hungry or not. Other than this continuous feeding experience, one of the mentionable thing was the treatment given to the passengers, it was royal.
This reminded me my flight journey from Delhi to Bangalore by Jet Airways. They also keep you busy by feeding something or the other and treat you like king/queen.
All in all I enjoyed my first journey through Shatabdi. Felt truly royal, exceeding expectations type experience.
Journey ended around 10:15. I got down in half sleep mode, thinking of my good journey, my next blog topic and a decision that for return journey I should come empty stomach.
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