Train journeys have always fascinated me .

The traveller residing inside my soul always craves for long journeys to exotic destinations. I think that travelling on trains has the potential to change your outlook towards life.

Today, I wish to share a story about a 18 -year old boy namely Rahul from Delhi (what else could be the most common name in North India). This name has traditional connection with Bollywood movies and has been adopted widely by star-struck parents in this part of India.

However, before I start the actual story about this boy , there is need to talk about Indian Railways network so that you get a background story to go with the flow of happenings inside the coach of the train.

The large number of people carried by Indian trains can confuse any ordinary observer. Officially, a normal passenger train has around 24 coaches and can carry about 1600 to 2000 persons depending upon the configuration of the coaches like open-air window (Sleeper) coaches and glass-covered window(AC) coaches using air conditioning systems. Generally, sleeper coaches can accommodate 72 sleeping berths. AC coaches can accommodate 64 sleeping berths into 3-by-3 configuration(3A) and 46 berths into 2-by-2 configuration(2A). The number of berths further goes down in First Class.

It’s simple mathematics that more you pay, bigger space and facilities you get.

There is also a third category of unreserved coaches which officially accommodates 90 sitting passengers but carries around 500 or more passengers during a normal day. This is the actual cattle class of our trains. But, it’s not unusual that 4000/5000 passengers are squeezed into all corners of the train and air-conditioned coaches are also full up to the brim in peak seasons which actually means 12 months in a calendar year. Getting tickets in Indian trains is a tough task and needy people purchase tickets 90 days in advance to avoid last-minute disappointments.

The background story about trains won’t be complete about reminding you that India has the 4th largest railway system in the world, behind only US, Russia and China. India moves through trains and if trains stop due to any rhyme or reason , the country stops.

But, the story of Rahul unfolds in the year 2005 when population of India was around 115 Crores which is nearly 144 Crores now. So, the Indian trains had to carry around 29 Crores less people than they carry in 2024. So, train travelling was fun in those days.

Rahul was a studious boy who has just completed his graduation from Delhi University. He wanted to join Indian Air Force and has given entrance examination for joining the IAF as an officer. Results were declared in May, 2005 and he received a call-up letter to undergo selection process at an Air Force Centre situated in Mysore city in August, 2005.

Though, Rahul had heard about Mysore through geography and history books as well as maps but he had no inkling about the way to reach this beautiful city. Life prior to advent of Google can be tough for young boys. No friend of his had either travelled or had prior experience about selection process of IAF. People of Delhi normally prefer cushy and less-strenous government/private sector jobs or start a business venture. Joining defence forces is not fashionable in the capital city of India.

Firstly, Rahul had to travel to Banglore from Delhi by train and then to Mysore by road. But, he was apprehensive about travelling alone in a train. He had never gone out of Delhi. He knew all the routes from his home in East Delhi to his college in North Delhi. He also had few friends in West Delhi and had visited glitzy and fashionable markets of South Delhi. But, travelling to Mysore had frightened him. Southern city of Banglore is situated around 2800 Kms. away from Delhi and travelling time in train was nearly 45 hours(around 02 days if you lucky and driver of train follows the route religiously). Drivers of trains sometimes take a detour from fixed route and may go for enjoying a steamy cup of tea from a famous roadside tea stall.

But, the desire to join the IAF helped him in making up his mind to undertake this arduous journey. One of his friend managed to reserve a ticket in a 3rd- Air Conditioned coach of a train namely Karnataka Sampark Kranti Express(Train No. -2614).

Assigning numbers to trains in India has a very scientific logic. Since the year 2010, train numbers in India have increased to five digits. First digit signifies the nature of train i.e. it’s a superfast or express or any other type of train. Superfast as the name suggest are the top dogs of the Indian Train System and have comparatively fewer stoppages than regular trains. Other digits similarly contain information about various characteristics of the train.

This particular train commences journey from Hazrat Nizamuddin Delhi Junction and goes up to Yeshwanthpur Junction in Banglore city. It covers nearly 2747 Kms. from Northern India to Southern India and passes through big and small towns/villages on the way.

Rahul reached station and his elder brother gave him farewell advice about travelling in train and bid adieu. Family elders in India have the uncanny habit of lecturing about philosophy of life to younger members irrespective of the occasion or place. But, this was an appropriate occasion. Eyes of Rahul became moist as he grasped the enormity of task ahead and travelling alone in middle of 2000 strangers in a closed and claustrophobic steel container. Trains are like that only, steel is all around at station , on the tracks and everywhere on the train. Imagine a situation when steel tubes of trains starts squeezing and crush everyone on the board. A doomsday scenario, but entirely feasible.

Rahul found his berth and sat on the blue-coloured foam disguised as sleeping berth. He looked around and found a family of 03 persons, husband, wife and a daughter (a beautiful girl who seemed older than him). So, only 04 persons were occupying this 06-seater cabin of this particular coach.

Rahul had no idea that this journey of few thousand miles will change his life forever. He had earlier noticed the large and mesmerising eyes of the girl, his co-passenger in the train. She was actually 24-year old, though looked younger in insufficient and off-white lighting of the cabin.

The train gave a long whistle and started with a jerk. Train started moving from the platform slowly, increasing speed by inches as few hurried passengers and their well-wishers tried to board and de-board at the same time.

It’s illogical that why people who don’t wish to travel, stay long inside the train and wait for movement of train to get down at the platform from a moving train. If you don’t wish to move out of Delhi now than why stay in a train going to Karnataka and create unnecessary confusion in the mind of onlookers. Indian movies are famous for romanticizing this trend of boarding or deboarding from a moving train at the last minute. What’s fun in this unnecessary hassle ?

But, it’s Sunday today and night is dark and long. So, no need to rush things, let’s hope that Rahul settles in the train and girl stays long enough to start a story.

But, that’s for another day. If you wish to read the story, wait for the train to gather speed.

To be continued…….