First Class Experience?

HelloSing

Hi all,

After coming down the mountains in Nepal on the top of a bus with the chickens and the vegetables, I thought I'd treat myself to a First Class train ticket. All the way from Gorakhpur to Delhi (from memory).

My first and last impression... Where is everyone? Where are the hoardes who accompanied me on the way up?

I shared a four-berth cabin with one person, a well-dressed gent, armed with a bushy moustache and half a dozen cucumbers. I wasn't too keen on the taste (or lack thereof) of cucumbers, but the one he offered was the most refreshing thing that I had ever eaten in India. I remember sitting in the open doorway, legs dangling out the side of the train, the cool air from the snow-capped Himalayas on my back, and the warm dust of the vast plains on my face.

I don't remember the accomodation very well... Very dark upholstery, shiny chrome-plated fittings, very roomy and airy. Clean apart from the dust that accumulated on the journey.

I have heard that production of First-Class coaches stopped several years ago. Worse still, I have heard that the maintenance and cleaning of the few operating First-Class coaches is dismal.

Has anyone had a First-Class experience lately... ...on the train I mean... ...you know what I mean!

I'm mainly travelling in the South, so looking at trains like the Malabar Express from Mangalore, the Pandyan Express (or Kanyakumari Express) to/from Chennai Egmore, and the Chennai Express from Allepey to Chennai Central.

But I would like to hear of any others of note.

Regards

SHIMLA

With the advent of the more comfortable AC 2-Tier, First Class has faded from memory.

I'm sure not many here will agree with me !

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cyberhippie

Still on the "to do" list, I haven't yet been on a train that had first class, they are very rare these days!!

HelloSing

Shimla,

I suffer from claustrophbia... dreading being trapped in the darkened cabin of a Boeing to get to India. Some people might call that comfortable... it's in the eyes of the beholder.

I have only seen phots of AC2, but there seems to less space, and no chance of some fresh air. There are also plenty of complaints about the poor visibility through the tinted dirty windows.

Give me space!

Regards

SHIMLA

When you'll travel from Mumbai to Jammu Tawi in the peak Indian summer and from those much maligned tinted windows watch the hapless public sweat it out in the furnace outside with a white napkin covering their head and ears; you'll thank yourself for choosing AC 2-Tier !

john.sw

This is a 1 A/C from Metupallyam to Chennai. It was an evening departure that arrived in Chennai next morning.

The view from the windows wasn’t spectacular because it was dark!

There were two bunks in our cabin, a/c and a fan. The bunks were comfortable enough and we were provided with clean, crisp bedding.

The food was also good, but you need to know how to eat with your fingers or you are likely to make a bit of a mess!

As you can see from the photos, the lavatory was reasonably clean.

We didn’t see much of our fellow passengers until morning. We congregated by the doors at the end of the carriage to enjoy an illicit early morning cigarette. People offered to give us a lift in their cars when we arrived, but we had already booked a car and driver…

Attached Thumbnails

         

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Aussie 5

Hi John.sw
Those photos provide such a clear picture - thanks.
Does 1AC have ensuite toilets? Or are toilets shared by all in the carriage?
I'm booked overnight 1AC Mumbai-Ahmedabad (Saurashtra Mail) and Delhi-Mumbai (Rajdhani).

HelloSing

Thanks John,

It's just approaching dinner time here, and the photo of the meal has my stomach grumbling.

I'm a bit surprised now. Western toilets! That's a relief.

The train may have been the 2672 Nilagiri Express which also has First-Class coaches. You didn't happen to notice them?

The 662 train to Ooty also has FC coaches, as well as 2S Seating. No AC coaches. Does anyone recall?

BTW Shimla, you may be right that I'm underestimating the heat, but we are coming out of winter here and it is hard to imagine just how hot some places can be. I'll be travelling in the winter-time in South India. I know the weather won't be cool, but hopefully it won't be overpowering.

Regards

john.sw

The lavatory is shared - one for each carriage.

Next morning it was just as clean.

Aussie 5

Thanks John
Any wash basins and power points in 1AC cabins?

SHIMLA

I haven't travelled by 1AC, but shouldn't there be two toilets for one carriage - one at each end ? Or is it two at each end, making it four for the carriage ?

tstan

Travelling from Australia to India in December is in climatic terms as well as in many respects, nothing less than blissful. I have travelled in FC on several occasions and it is like the old -fashioned British trains with a corridor on the side with compartments accommodating four to six people which are lockable - this is annoying if somebody wants to enter your compartment (legitimately) late at night.

It is very strange being separated from the great bulk of the local people for, at least in 1AC and 2AC as well as 3AC (the best value in the times that Shimla is referring to) there are always new passengers joining the carriage and most of these are local people. Isn't one of the main reasons for travel to meet local people?

Outside the Oct-Mar period when air-conditioning becomes more attractive for travellers there is not a lot of difference in comfort levels between FC and SL but there is certainly a lot of difference in fares! Sadly, with accountants holding sway these days, there is not a lot of future for FC. Enjoy it while it lasts. Isn't that a metaphor for life in general?

HelloSing

I agree! But to me, a lot of the life that you come to see, goes on outside the train. And to have an open window when stopped at a station is usually much more facinating than the people inside. You can see things, smell things and hear things that you would miss with fixed windows.

Perhaps rail-side life is much tamer these days, with half the passengers coccooned away. I suppose it is still possible to buy a cup of chai through the window in sleeper class.

Regards