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As somebody who was apprehensive about travelling by air from Delhi to Mumbai given the increasing number of technical snags reported on various aircrafts, I booked myself on a Tejas Rajdhani from Delhi to Mumbai that was to depart at 4.55 pm on the 18th of July and land the following morning at 8.55 am. This felt like an easy and comfortable ride but what followed is a direct reflection of the deteriorating safety standards and lack of accountability towards passengers. Thread follows. Please feel free to drop your personal experience in this thread. I will also be tagging the railway authorities on twitter with this thread.
On the 18th of July, when I reached the New Delhi railway station to board my train for Mumbai, the escalator at the railway station was not working. Locals told me that the escalator had been non functional for months. Old women and men took the stairs, breathing heavily while carrying their bags and other packages. I had a relatively small travel bag, but as somebody who has been receiving treatment for spine related complications, this proved to be a disaster. And this was only the beginning
I faced this as well, when I was travelling to Mumbai from Nizamuddin Railway station. In that scorching heat people were struggling to climb stairs. I arrived an hour prior to the railway station and there is no arrangement where people can sit in shed atleast. It was the month of Ramadan and during fasting it was a bad decision to take train to Mumbai. I took Tejas Rajdhani assuming it will be hassle free journey but I ended up in bed rest for next 4 days. Terrible experience!!
The Tejas Rajdhani started on time at exactly 4.55 pm in the evening. I went off to sleep on the upper berth at around one in the night but soon after around 2.30, we where all woken up with a jolt. A young woman with a toddler had pulled the chain as her father fell on the station while boarding the train. The train stood still and there was no sign of either the ticket collector or anyone who could help her.
Some passengers wondered if they could vent their anger at the pantry and the cleaning staff who themselves had no answers. When would we reach Mumbai ? Many asked - If a train had derailed two days ago in a major accident, why did our train take the same route knowing that the rubble had not been cleared. Worst still, why was the train not cancelled despite news reports about the accident and why where none of us notified. The train finally reached Mumbai Central at 12.30 in the night, after a sixteen hour delay/ When this journalist approached the driver of the train at Mumbai Central Station, the rather exhausted gentleman looked at me and said 'Imagine my own plight. Please ask this of the railways, when will they start treating us, the drivers and the staff as humans'
At around noon on the 19th, we found ourselves at Ajmer railway station. Where where we headed ? When would we reach Mumbai. We where already fours past the arrival time. At two in the afternoon, the pantry guy informed that they would be preparing rice and dal for the passengers. I can vouch for the quality of the food, it was not fit for human consumption. By 4 pm, we where told that the train was taking a different route to Mumbai. The toilets by this time where choking. A pregnant lady in adjacent berth who was travelling alone looked at us for answers. Another old lady who was on her way to meet her son in Mumbai was writhing in pain. She had met with an accident on her way to New Delhi Railway station and the passengers had helped her with a lower berth
When most of us woke up at 5 am to get ready for the arrival at Mumbai Central, we heard a commotion. The train was not heading to Mumbai. It was at Bhilwara. Passengers went from one compartment to the other looking for answers but there was nobody to give any update. The men in the pantry who where already frazzled asked us to hold whatever eatables we had alongwith water as the train had to return back
Another passenger was on his way for the funeral of his nephew. None of us had any answers. The train was smelling of leftovers and a stinking smell from the bathroom. And mind you, this was a 2nd AC compartment. I cannot imagine what the less privileged in the sleeper class where going through. In the midst of all this, the workers in the train who where trying to do their best in helping the passengers and feeding them with the emergency material on the train had their own grudge. One told me that he was receiving only half of his salary of nine thousand rupees over the last four months.
The passengers in the train who had been hearing news of technical snags on multiple flights including the emergency landing of an Indigo flight in Pakistan panicked. Still not a single official or any announcement. As somebody who had not booked a meal and was carrying her own food, I was at the mercy of the largesse of the pantry staff as none of us could get down at the stations the train stopped. Since these where not designated stations, the doors where not opened
Assalamu alaikum Baji. May Allah's rahmath always protect you. We make dua for your well being.
Just want let you know most of your tweets are being censored/blocked.
I have turned on notification for your tweets on my phone. I get a notification but when I click on that notification tweet is not visible. All It says "cannot retrieve the tweet now"
I’m not defending what all have the passengers have gone through. But I would like to bring some facts to the knowledge of all.
1. The derailment on the section caused this diversion and there could be deficiencies in the catering services which needs to be brought to the notice of Railways. There will be an action against the Contractor.
2. Now I would like to inform you a recent disaster of DB Railways of Germany which happened yesterday and their response. Based on this you can judge as what Indian Railways did is much much better then the services provided in developed countries.
3. I was supposed to travel from Frankfurt to Brussels in ICE 214 on 24.07.2022 at 10:26 hrs.
4. When I reached station it was informed that the train has been cancelled on account of maintenance (no prior information on cancellation) and gave me an alternate choice of travelling with two change overs
5. I started with new itinerary and got stuck at first change on Klon (Clone) for close to three hours shifting from one platform to another with no help from officials
6. Then at 4 pm took another train which was cancelled at Bonn with no explanation.( Over here with confirmation I was forced to travel sitting on floor of vistibule )
7. DB Railways cancelled the train at Bonn and gave no reason. The staff concerned just disappeared. No help was given and no refund of 96€ for cancellation
8. I took cab to Brussels
Over here I want to tell that this happened as Germany authors announced that with your monthly pass you can travel in Inter City to enjoy vacation. And when trains got overloaded these were cancelled giving breakdown as reason.
I’m not trying to defend what bad experience you had yesterday but at least IR tried its best totals the passengers to its destination with provision of catering which might have been bad. But at least the IR takes responsibility in the event of emergencies to transport its passengers. Mind it over here with DB Railways they are not even entertaining the refund to the genuine ticket holders with reservations done months in advance.
Rana you are a known name in International media and circle with millions admirers. If you could use your good office to highlight the horrible experience to your followers of the pathetic services of DB Railways -Germany, the much respect for you in me will go one notch up. If you agree will provide with all the details of tickets, cancellation etc.
One of the reason for DB chaos is 9 Euro ticket for whole month. This has taken them by surprise. Deutsche Bahn was not ready for it, again politicians are to blame.
Further, As a passenger of Deutsche Bahn, you can claim compensation in some cases. From 60 minutes delay to the destination station, 25 percent of the fare is returned, from 120 minutes 50 percent. From 20 minutes of announced delay to the destination station, you may use another train.
On the 18th of July, when I reached the New Delhi railway station to board my train for Mumbai, the escalator at the railway station was not working. Locals told me that the escalator had been non functional for months. Old women and men took the stairs, breathing heavily while carrying their bags and other packages. I had a relatively small travel bag, but as somebody who has been receiving treatment for spine related complications, this proved to be a disaster. And this was only the beginning
I faced this as well, when I was travelling to Mumbai from Nizamuddin Railway station. In that scorching heat people were struggling to climb stairs. I arrived an hour prior to the railway station and there is no arrangement where people can sit in shed atleast. It was the month of Ramadan and during fasting it was a bad decision to take train to Mumbai. I took Tejas Rajdhani assuming it will be hassle free journey but I ended up in bed rest for next 4 days. Terrible experience!!
The Tejas Rajdhani started on time at exactly 4.55 pm in the evening. I went off to sleep on the upper berth at around one in the night but soon after around 2.30, we where all woken up with a jolt. A young woman with a toddler had pulled the chain as her father fell on the station while boarding the train. The train stood still and there was no sign of either the ticket collector or anyone who could help her.
Some passengers wondered if they could vent their anger at the pantry and the cleaning staff who themselves had no answers. When would we reach Mumbai ? Many asked - If a train had derailed two days ago in a major accident, why did our train take the same route knowing that the rubble had not been cleared. Worst still, why was the train not cancelled despite news reports about the accident and why where none of us notified. The train finally reached Mumbai Central at 12.30 in the night, after a sixteen hour delay/ When this journalist approached the driver of the train at Mumbai Central Station, the rather exhausted gentleman looked at me and said 'Imagine my own plight. Please ask this of the railways, when will they start treating us, the drivers and the staff as humans'
At around noon on the 19th, we found ourselves at Ajmer railway station. Where where we headed ? When would we reach Mumbai. We where already fours past the arrival time. At two in the afternoon, the pantry guy informed that they would be preparing rice and dal for the passengers. I can vouch for the quality of the food, it was not fit for human consumption. By 4 pm, we where told that the train was taking a different route to Mumbai. The toilets by this time where choking. A pregnant lady in adjacent berth who was travelling alone looked at us for answers. Another old lady who was on her way to meet her son in Mumbai was writhing in pain. She had met with an accident on her way to New Delhi Railway station and the passengers had helped her with a lower berth
The passengers started checking their GPS and many called their homes to get their families to check the news since there was no information forthcoming. News websites carried stories of the derailment of a goods train derailment at Dahod in Gujarat where sixteen wagons of the train had derailed from the tracks (https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/goods-train-derails-in-gujarat-no-casualty-rail-traffic-affected-on-route-3167821)
When most of us woke up at 5 am to get ready for the arrival at Mumbai Central, we heard a commotion. The train was not heading to Mumbai. It was at Bhilwara. Passengers went from one compartment to the other looking for answers but there was nobody to give any update. The men in the pantry who where already frazzled asked us to hold whatever eatables we had alongwith water as the train had to return back
Another passenger was on his way for the funeral of his nephew. None of us had any answers. The train was smelling of leftovers and a stinking smell from the bathroom. And mind you, this was a 2nd AC compartment. I cannot imagine what the less privileged in the sleeper class where going through. In the midst of all this, the workers in the train who where trying to do their best in helping the passengers and feeding them with the emergency material on the train had their own grudge. One told me that he was receiving only half of his salary of nine thousand rupees over the last four months.
There is not Sleeper compartment in Rajdhani's train, But yes sleeper compartment goes further down to hell.
There is also a 2S compartment where passenger don't carry even a ticket eve, imagine the situation.
The passengers in the train who had been hearing news of technical snags on multiple flights including the emergency landing of an Indigo flight in Pakistan panicked. Still not a single official or any announcement. As somebody who had not booked a meal and was carrying her own food, I was at the mercy of the largesse of the pantry staff as none of us could get down at the stations the train stopped. Since these where not designated stations, the doors where not opened
Assalamu alaikum Baji. May Allah's rahmath always protect you. We make dua for your well being.
Just want let you know most of your tweets are being censored/blocked.
I have turned on notification for your tweets on my phone. I get a notification but when I click on that notification tweet is not visible. All It says "cannot retrieve the tweet now"
All the officers of IR including the minister recieving full salary while ordinary workers suffering! This is new India dreaming of bullet trains
I want the sound of the mobile phone to be blocked
Achcha kabhi mera is tarah ka experience hua nahi
This is the situation particularly central government departments are going worst by worst day by day
All the institutions are moving towards that way
When people don’t seek justice as they know what will be the end result
Then it will be train to hell naturally
Hi Rana. Greetings
I’m not defending what all have the passengers have gone through. But I would like to bring some facts to the knowledge of all.
1. The derailment on the section caused this diversion and there could be deficiencies in the catering services which needs to be brought to the notice of Railways. There will be an action against the Contractor.
2. Now I would like to inform you a recent disaster of DB Railways of Germany which happened yesterday and their response. Based on this you can judge as what Indian Railways did is much much better then the services provided in developed countries.
3. I was supposed to travel from Frankfurt to Brussels in ICE 214 on 24.07.2022 at 10:26 hrs.
4. When I reached station it was informed that the train has been cancelled on account of maintenance (no prior information on cancellation) and gave me an alternate choice of travelling with two change overs
5. I started with new itinerary and got stuck at first change on Klon (Clone) for close to three hours shifting from one platform to another with no help from officials
6. Then at 4 pm took another train which was cancelled at Bonn with no explanation.( Over here with confirmation I was forced to travel sitting on floor of vistibule )
7. DB Railways cancelled the train at Bonn and gave no reason. The staff concerned just disappeared. No help was given and no refund of 96€ for cancellation
8. I took cab to Brussels
Over here I want to tell that this happened as Germany authors announced that with your monthly pass you can travel in Inter City to enjoy vacation. And when trains got overloaded these were cancelled giving breakdown as reason.
I’m not trying to defend what bad experience you had yesterday but at least IR tried its best totals the passengers to its destination with provision of catering which might have been bad. But at least the IR takes responsibility in the event of emergencies to transport its passengers. Mind it over here with DB Railways they are not even entertaining the refund to the genuine ticket holders with reservations done months in advance.
Rana you are a known name in International media and circle with millions admirers. If you could use your good office to highlight the horrible experience to your followers of the pathetic services of DB Railways -Germany, the much respect for you in me will go one notch up. If you agree will provide with all the details of tickets, cancellation etc.
Thanks and Stay Blessed
Sanjay
Dear Sanjay
One of the reason for DB chaos is 9 Euro ticket for whole month. This has taken them by surprise. Deutsche Bahn was not ready for it, again politicians are to blame.
Further, As a passenger of Deutsche Bahn, you can claim compensation in some cases. From 60 minutes delay to the destination station, 25 percent of the fare is returned, from 120 minutes 50 percent. From 20 minutes of announced delay to the destination station, you may use another train.
From bad to worse