RailFans never grow old

My down journey in 09418 DEE-ADI Premium AC Special Express on 11th June 2014.
I booked the ticket for 11th june on 1st june itself in the morning..But still got the ticket for a smashing rate i.e 2170..
Was very excited to board this train specially after a fantastic journey in 12957.I reached Delhi Sarai Rohilla.. i found that the train was standing on platform number 3.To my surprise the train was jam packed.Even RAC were alloted to passengers.
My...
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seat again was Upper Berth..B3 38.
The train departed from DEE 3 minutes late from its scheduled time at 4.18 pm.It picked up speed very quickly but made many halts in between DEE and DEC though it did not stop at DEC.The cleanliness and coach was not as good as 12957..Few coaches were of NR and few were of WR..My coach was a NR coach made in 2011.
Snacks were provided just as the train crossed Palam.This time there was a veg puff, soan roll and aloo bhujia.
The train speed was very fluctuating..It picked up speed and then slowed down quickly..This went on till it crossed Rewari.The train ran at a brilliant speed till Alwar..It made an unofficial halt at Alwar to let AII-JAT Pooja Express cross it as the line ahead was a single line.The train halted at Alwar for some 15 odd minutes.As soon as Pooja Exp reached alwar 09418 got a yellow signal and it left Alwar..It picked up speed quickly and again it halted at Bandikui to let another train cross it.
The dinner was provided just before the train arrived at jaipur.The dinner was again awful.
Then the train made its way for its very first official stoppage in the journey-Jaipur..Train halted on platform 2 of Jaipur jn..It arrived late by 10 minutes at JP..
One of the passengers who had a lower berth on seat 33 got down at Jaipur..Another passenger was supposed to board the train at Jaipur but he did not turn up leaving that seat empty.I was very much delighted and as soon as the TT checked for that passenger i took that seat..I was very happy to get the lower berth this time..The train ran very fast between Jaipur and Ajmer..Still it could not make up much..Arrived AII 5 minutes late on platfor 2..After a 10 min halt, the train departed from ajmer and caught up the speed..In between Ajmer and Abu the train stopped at many deserted stations to let Rajdhani Express, Ashram Express and Garib Rath Express cross it.Even after 3 unofficial halts it reached Abu Road on time at platform 1..The train hardly had a 5 minutes halt at Abu and again took of a lightening start to head towards its next halt Palanpur..It arrived 5 minutes late at palanpur..After a 2 minutes halt it headed towrds its final destination Ahmedabad..In the morning, tea was provided (without biscuits..Passengers had to ask for the biscuits).It reached khodiyar by 6.15 and again stopped and khodiyar, this time to let Aravalli Express cross it.As soon as Aravalli Express crossed my train, it departed from Khodiyar..Was running very slow..Could have easily reached well before time at ADI but it reached just a minute ago on platform number 4 of Ahmedabad Junction..This train definately has the potential to reach Ahmedabad by 6 am if some work is done on its time table and if so many unofficials halts are avoided to let other trains cross it because of single line..
The punctuality was good but the halts were very irritating due to which it reached late at jaipur and ajmer.
Speed was fantastic..I found that even better than 12957.
Food was even worse than 12957.
Cleanliness and maintenance was not as good as Rajdhani's
Staff was okay.
Overall experience was good but i expected much more from it being a premium.
With this journey i have now travelled in all types of trains of india..Be it rajdhani,shatabdi,premium,DD,garib rath,superfast,mail,express,passenger,memu etc.
Proud to be a railfan.. :D :D
I hope u all liked my trip diary. :)

Admins kindly update the platform numbers for 09418..
DEE-3
JP-2
AII-2
ABR-1
PNU-1...
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ADI-4