Shatabdi Express

Launched early in the 1990's - I remember dropping and picking my father (at the end of his Delhi day trip) along with Narinder Singh - the driver. 

Three decades since, a lot has changed and life has moved on - a subtle reminder to cherish and enjoy the present. Had a day's work at Delhi - and flying or driving didn't make sense to my sensibilities. I think I boarded a train after 9 years or so, with last ride being solo overnight journey from Bikaner to Delhi after I DNF'd in Desert Storm 2013.

First impressions - the station was tad cleaner, train was surgical on timetable, crowd had improved since my last Shatabdi ride. No shit on tracks and no foul smell - neither at Chandigarh nor at Delhi. Inside found the train to be cleaner in terms - did not witness loitering, the serving staff seemed standardised (wearing dress and IRCTC caps). Now there is this screen which tells you of the current speed, next stop and ETA final destination - all interspaced with don't loiter, don't smoke kind of subconscious feeding messages. Food quality has improved although quantity has shrunk given the inflation and all - but you do have options to buy more stuff by paying extra just as flights. Enroute saw abundant newly made and a few under construction underpasses, probably to reduce number of railway crossings from a safety perspective - no wonder driver was bucking it upto 130kph ! 

Let er buck

TC now carries a tablet in hand, asks your name and promptly swipes on the screen - the days of lists and ticking with pen are bygone. At Delhi station - saw electric buggy ferrying the elderly to their compartment - at least that was the case on Platform no 1. Otherwise its more or less the same - passengers waiting are still sleeping everywhere on floors, dogs are still around although a little less.

Being a denizen of a country where one is used to things not getting better or improving too little too slow - I had an impression that things are changing; no matter how small, but they are and overall I wasn't left feeling that train option was a bad idea. I hope the progress and work continues.