A train journey high on cost but low on comfort
Gopakumar.R@timesgroup.com
Chennai:04.10.2018
Ever since the railways introduced dynamic fares, there have been complaints about its lack of dynamism in ensuring better amenities. On Wednesday, this reporter had the bitter experience of travelling in a seat with a missing armrest and damaged food tray stand after shelling out Tatkal fare.
The journey was from Erode to Chennai on the intercity express from Coimbatore, the popular day train connecting the two busiest cities in the state. After buying the Tatkal ticket on A/C chair car for ₹720 instead of the normal₹575, this reporter was allotted seat 12 in C2 coach.
However, an unpleasant surprise lay in store as he realised the food packet would have to be placed on his lap and he wouldn’t be able to rest his right hand through the sixhour journey.
When this double whammy was brought to the notice of the TTE, he said he would try to find a vacant seat if available.
“I have told them several times about these seats,” he mumbled. With most of the seats occupied, this was easier said than done. The TTE did come back about an hour later to say that a seat was vacant in the next coach. However, by then an elderly co-passenger had offered to change seats at breakfast time and this reporter preferred to continue in the seat.
Tweets to the general manager of Southern Railway and railway ministry on the pitiable condition of the coach evoked no response. On calling up 138 to register a formal complaint, the man who picked up the phone gave a patient hearing and noted down the seat number. “I will inform the concerned department,” he said.
Apologising for the inconvenience, Southern Railway PRO Dhananjeyan said, “Coach maintenance of the train is at Salem division. As the train will be reaching Coimbatore now, we have advised DRM Salem for attention.”
NOT WORTH IT: The seat was missing an armrest and the food tray stand was damaged
Gopakumar.R@timesgroup.com
Chennai:04.10.2018
Ever since the railways introduced dynamic fares, there have been complaints about its lack of dynamism in ensuring better amenities. On Wednesday, this reporter had the bitter experience of travelling in a seat with a missing armrest and damaged food tray stand after shelling out Tatkal fare.
The journey was from Erode to Chennai on the intercity express from Coimbatore, the popular day train connecting the two busiest cities in the state. After buying the Tatkal ticket on A/C chair car for ₹720 instead of the normal₹575, this reporter was allotted seat 12 in C2 coach.
However, an unpleasant surprise lay in store as he realised the food packet would have to be placed on his lap and he wouldn’t be able to rest his right hand through the sixhour journey.
When this double whammy was brought to the notice of the TTE, he said he would try to find a vacant seat if available.
“I have told them several times about these seats,” he mumbled. With most of the seats occupied, this was easier said than done. The TTE did come back about an hour later to say that a seat was vacant in the next coach. However, by then an elderly co-passenger had offered to change seats at breakfast time and this reporter preferred to continue in the seat.
Tweets to the general manager of Southern Railway and railway ministry on the pitiable condition of the coach evoked no response. On calling up 138 to register a formal complaint, the man who picked up the phone gave a patient hearing and noted down the seat number. “I will inform the concerned department,” he said.
Apologising for the inconvenience, Southern Railway PRO Dhananjeyan said, “Coach maintenance of the train is at Salem division. As the train will be reaching Coimbatore now, we have advised DRM Salem for attention.”
NOT WORTH IT: The seat was missing an armrest and the food tray stand was damaged
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