In continuation of above blog posts

/blog/post/5222330 - 11033 Gyan Ganga Express 18 Feb 2009
/blog/post/5227290 - 11057 Dadar Amritsar Express on 22 Feb 2008
/blog/post/5227290 - Intercity from Sonipat to...
more...

New Delhi on 25 Feb 2008

Next trip on 25 Feb 08 in one of the famous trains of ECR 12398 Mahabodhi Express.
After deboarding from Intercity I was waiting for my train, If i correctly remember it used to depart New Delhi from 1410 Hrs and reached Gaya next day around 5 am or 6 am. I heard announcement of Mahabodhi Express arriving around 1300 Hrs on PF 11 or 12 at New Delhi. I wasn't aware about the trains TAT etc around that time. I thought the train which has came will depart. As i went to the platform, I got to see the passengers deboarded and doors locked for general cleaning and the Train was rescheduled by 1.5 Hrs from New Delhi, Which meant overtakes as soon as it departed from New Delhi. I saw a huge rush waiting to board the train General Coaches with RPF making a straight line of them. Anyhow around 3 pm the gates were opened and I reached my seat, I always loved lower berth and this was no exception. I took my berth and hoped that no one asks to exchange it. Anyhow in less than 15 minutes all seats were taken and there were few extra pax too, in my cabin ot 8 there were almost 12 person, when I said why do you board with waiting ticket, it was a paltry reply, "Sabko jaana hai, thoda adjust kar lijiye. Raatbhar ka to safar hai." Anyhow the train stared at 1530 Hrs from New Delhi and after reaching Ghaziabad was looped and was overtaken by some Rajdhani. Then it again started and ran quite well behind the Rajdhani Clearance until it was again halted and Khurja Jn at around 1800 Hrs. Overtakes Began, and the train again started at around 1840 Hrs and reached Aligarh around 1930 Hrrs. It was already late by a considerable time till then. The train started from aligharh and had a non stop run till Tundla, where it was again halted for about 10 mins.
The train then ran considerable well and reached Kanpur around 2315 Hrs and I went to sleep hoping that the train covers some Delay. Well when I woke up around 0530 am in the morning the train was standing at Mughalsarai, I thought of going to the toilet, but there were people sleeping all over the floor, even some in my cabin. I some how crossed them thinking like I was crossing Landmines. I went to the toilet and it was quite dirty. I freshened up and geared for the rest of journey. The train reached Gaya around 0930 Hrs in the moring and was considerable late by then. My friend came to pick me up and I went to his home.