TRAIN
Indian Railways ranks fourth in the world in terms of the total length of railway lines, which in this country is as high as 60 000 km. Every day from Indian railway stations it departs over 7000 passenger trains, plying between 7100 stations and transporters 10,5 million passengers. The company employs up to 1,6 million employees, which in this respect gives him the first place in the world.
Timetables
Trains in India may not impress with comfort, but surely no other railway in the world is so "exotic". To get from one city to another quickly, take the plane. However, to see the true face of this country and feel its specific and unique atmosphere, you have to choose the train.
During the rainy season and shortly thereafter, many rail connections are brought to a halt due to swollen rivers and floods. This mainly concerns the lowlands around the Ganges and coastal regions.
One of the best timetables is Trains at a Glance, costly 10 INR. You can get it at almost all stations, and in larger cities also in kiosks. Details on connections and departures are also provided in the local timetables; the pink pages also provide information on postal and express trains. Unfortunately, these brochures are available only in some localities.
Costly 50 The 300-page INR Indiam Bradshaw provides timetables for all domestic trains. It is so detailed, that you can often find it difficult to find the information you want. The book is published every month and is sold at the station's press stands.
Class
There are first and second class carriages on Indian trains. Within each of them, we additionally distinguish several categories. The first class is divided into ordinary and air-conditioned. Air-conditioned carriages are part of trains that run only on the main national routes. The fee for a seat in such a car usually exceeds the price of a regular ticket 1. class. Transfer in a sleeping car 1. class with 2-bunk beds and air conditioning costs only 5% more than just a ride 1. class.
Between 1. a 2. class, there are two more types of bins, also equipped with air conditioning units: with 3-story couchettes and with aviation armchairs. You pay for a couchette 70% ticket prices 1. class, for the air seat – 55%. Trains with such carriages run only between larger centers, while in an air seat you can travel only during the day.
Types of trains
There are three types of trains in India: postal, express and passenger. Although, neither of them develops very high speed, but the first two at least don't stop at every station. Passenger trains travel very slowly, they make long stops, and are therefore often delayed. The report published by Indian Railways shows, that postal and express trains run at medium speed 47,1 km/h, while the speed of personal is merely 27,2 km/h! Only travel in the latter 2. class.
High-speed express trains with air-conditioned carriages only run between larger cities, stopping only at selected stations. Ticket prices are higher, because the meal was included, served in every espresso machine of this type, except Rajdhani from Delhi to Bangalore and Madras. These trains include: Rajdhani Express from Delhi to Mumbai, Madras and Calcutta, Shatabdi Express, running between Delhi and Chandigarh / Kalka, Bhopal, Jaipur, Dehradun and La-khnau and between Madras and Maysur, and also Bombajem and Ahmadabad. Their average speed is approx. 130 km/h.
Track gauge
Indian trains run on three types of tracks: wide (1,676 m), meter long (1 m) and narrow (0,762 or 0,610 m).
Wide tracks allow you to develop high speeds and ensure driving comfort, therefore they are mainly used by express and postal trains. The width of the wagon running on wide and meter tracks is almost identical, however, it is far superior to the narrow gauge railcars, which are therefore always crowded. In the areas, where only the narrow-gauge railway runs, better to travel by buses, thus saving a lot of time. This is especially true of Rajastha-n, northern Bihar and the areas of Uttar Pradesh near the border with Nepal.
The "charms" of travel
By traveling 2. class, which is not included in the seat reservation, you have to be prepared to spend a few hours in a crowded compartment, filled with not only people, but also with various objects. Hindus, who go anywhere by train, they have the habit of taking almost all their belongings. Therefore, there is usually not enough space in the carriages, plus there is a lot of noise. Fans and lamps rarely run during indefinitely long stops, and the toilets become unusable after a few hours. However, the endless stops are irritating the most, often for no apparent reason. Usually it turns out, someone just used the emergency brake, because he cared, to get off at this point. Of course, it is forbidden, however, hardly anyone attaches importance to this provision.
In the wagons 2. class, in which seats are valid, the situation is a bit better. However, there are often five or even six passengers crowding on benches designed for four people. A comfortable ride is ensured by buying a ticket in the wagon 1. class, because more than a few people rarely travel in the internally closed compartments.