Here comes my Trip Review of Journey onboard newly LHBfied Pooja Express
DOJ: 27th April 2018, LDH --> GGN, 12414/Jammu Ajmer Pooja Express, Class: 3A
Story:
So, we reached Ludhiana Jn around 50 minutes prior to scheduled departure. As we entered into the station, we got to see 22461/New Delhi -Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Shri Shakti AC Express arriving 15 minutes delayed on...
more... PF2.
The whole station was busy that day. There was like no place to stand on PF1 (where Pooja was to arrive). I could also see some reserved passengers inside the AC HOT BUFFET CAR of Shri Shakti Express. I wonder if they were feeling hot or cool ? 😅
Next came Down Jammu Tawi Tatanagar Muri express, this also 15 minutes late on PF1. Some rush did get clear but not all boarded this train. After Muri's departure, came our Pooja Express with shining LHB coaches hauled by GZB WAP 7 30XYZ (Don't remember exact number).
Some features and review of our Third AC coach :
Windows as told by some IRI members was fine. It was quite clearly visible from inside to outside (and more clear in deep night when all lights of coach are kept off. We departed from LDH at 23.30 being 15mins late. I guess the rush still on the PF was due to the UP and Bihar bound trains which were yet to arrive. Begampura delayed by 5.30hrs, Amritsar Howrah (via SLN) & Ganga Sutlej each delayed by 2.30 hrs.
Due to some great 'Mahashay' sleeping on the berth above me (SU, mine was SL), I could not even sleep for 2 hrs. I had my UPTU exam on Sunday. I woke up at 3.20 and found the train arriving at some station. I could not see stn. Board but realised that the station with one-track and two platforms at PF1 could be none other than subzi mandi in Delhi Division. That was WOW. Pooja got MPS run throughout between UMB and DLI. It was before time by around 15 mins. So, we departed at 3.36 from subzi mandi. It was halted two times between subzi mandi and DLI. Still we arrived RT at DLI PF3. After 10 mins, I got down and visited the back of the train to see the new diesel loco attachment. Surprisingly, It was a WDP 4D from ET shed 40XYZ (Number, I have posted in some earlier post of same day, time around 4.35am)
I came back and relaxed a bit. We departed from DLI after the loco reversal (actually loco change + loco reversal-- this is much easier than actual loco reversal. Within 10 mins of arriving at DLI, they had attached the D-loco at the back end.)
So, we started again a superfast run between DLI and GGN. Halted once at Delhi cantt ~ 2 mins. The LP was very cautious of standing time. If it was 2 minutes, then it won't be a minute more. We finally reached GGN delayed by some 5-7 mins. The train departed GGN like a cheetah. It was obvious because it was straight line after GGN w/o any curves. Then we got to where we had to go and hence completing my first train journey after 3 yrs.
But wait, I forgot about the coach review: New coaches, all seats well maintained. Comfortable seats. But on MPS run, the coach was definitely shaky. And the toilet, man they had written 'push this button to flush' .I pushed it very hard but all in vain. It didn't flush. Also there was extremely slow water supply. It was about to go away. It's just 20 days since Pooja got LHB and this is the condition of toilets. IR ! What's going on ?
Next review: New Delhi Amritsar Shatabdi Express (12013) NDLS --> LDH coming soon...
