OLD WINE IN NEW BOTTLE
Reposting perhaps the first ever trip report in IRI on a journey by a Duronto Exp undertaken by me in July 2011.
Vivek et al have been waiting with bated breath for an account of my journey by the HWH-NDLS Duronto and I am furnishing a detailed and ornamental narrative of my experiences. On Friday the 15th of July, while on the way from my office to Howrah Station, I decided to relinquish the services of my car at the banks of the River Hooghly opposite...
more... to Howrah Station. This was primarily to avoid the traffic congestion on the Howrah Bridge and the station premises and also as a time-saving measure. I, therefore, availed myself of the ferry service. A monsoon-drenched river in full flow with an accompanying drizzle was a sight to behold. Much akin to a sensuous Mandakini in bathing attire or rather the lack of it in late Raj Kapoor’s RAM TERI GANGA MAILI, if I were to borrow from the colourful vocabulary and style of RAILFAN86.
Reached Howrah at 11.50 am, 70 mns ahead of the scheduled departure of my train. Was loitering in both the Old and New Complexes in search of the SER timetable. Finally found one at the Wheeler’s bookstall at the New Complex. This was in addition to the TAAG which already formed part of my modest luggage of one shoulder bag. At 12.20 I went back to the Old Complex Platform 9, which was the scheduled platform for my train to depart, but I found it usurped by an illegal occupant, the VIBHUTI EXPRESS, which had just arrived at 12.10 pm, more than 4 hours late.
And true to its infamous reputation, Howrah Station lived up to its tradition of last minute changes of the platform for arriving/departing trains, much to the chagrin and discomfort of the public. While all display boards indicated that the New Delhi Duronto would depart from Platform No. 9, there was an announcement at 12.30 pm that the departure will be from Platform No. 8. This resulted in a mad scramble among the waiting passengers. Fortunately both these platforms were on either side of the CAB ROAD and all one had to do was cross the road.
The term CAB ROAD is a bit of misnomer as CABS are not allowed to enter the CAB ROAD. The CAB ROAD is a unique feature of Howrah Station and I have not encountered this luxury elsewhere in India. If you go to Howrah station in a private car to board a train, you can enter the cab road by paying an entry fee of Rs. 100 and park your car in front of your coach, say B3, if you are lucky enough to find parking space. All you now have to do is walk 10 metres or thereabouts and board your coach. However, if you find parking space opposite B1, then just a few metres is required. Of course this is possible only if your train departs from platforms 8 or 9 of the Old Complex. A similar facility is available in platforms 21 and 22 of the New Complex. These 4 platforms are used for most of the prestigious trains like Rajdhanis, Kalka Mail, Poorva Express and the Durontos. Even otherwise, this facility is convenient if the train departs from any of the adjacent platforms as the extent of walking is minimised.
The empty rake of the 12273 Howrah Duronto Express trooped into Platform 8 at 12.35 pm and there was this unsemly surge to board the train as if it was a suburban local and would be leaving in the next 2 mns. After the initial rush was over I boarded and occupied my seat 59 in coach B3, having intentionally opted for an upper berth.
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