Flying Ranee

Hi, one of my friends is travelling by flying ranee from Valsad to Borivali on 21st Dec by AC Chair Car. Has anybody travelled on this train in this class? I am hearing that the regulars (who travel everyday) harass the reservation holding passengers in regular II Class. Does that happen in AC Chair cars? Thanks.

The Flying Ranee is a famous train with a unique atmosphere and clientel, the train has double-decker carriages (maybe the only ones in India) and many famous rituals that are still performed daily, the regulars are mostly Krishna Hindus who meet each day on this train, they then all offer Puja (prayers) then clap, sing and chant each morning, at the end of these rituals is the (so called) relaxing laughter exercise, they all stand and laugh loudly for about 5 minutes, this is supposed to relax everyone and prepare them for the day ahead.

EVERYONE is expected to join in.

I'm surprised your friend managed to get a ticket for the train, it's said to be the herdest train for reservations in India.

I’ve heard that cameras are not welcome on this train.

Most of the above is just joking.

Try this link for more info on the train.

It is a famous train, and the part about the double-decker is true.

But I have no idea how the regulars behave towards other people.

You should have no trouble in the AC chair car at all. The first class there is no harrasment but like the regular berth which seats 3 people and the regulars will ask to make room so 5 people can seat you will be literally rubbin shoulders with the person sitting next to you. Remember tho most are daily commuters and hold a yearly/montly pass(allows unlimited travel on that particular train or certain trains).
The double decker if I remember correct is only for the regular class also referred as 3rd class.
But I would not worry about A/C chair cars.

Thanks. My friend just completed her travel last night (for me in USA). No problems. The TT treated her respectfully and she had a nice ride (He did not even check her passport to match the e-tickets ID). She said that it was extremely crowded for the general coaches though.

And no laughter exercise?

They're popular in India (and I'm not joking), you can see these laughter clubs in parks in large cities each morning, I first saw it in Jaipur and was amazed at how seriously the people taking the exercise, breathing exercises before they began, then puffing their chests out before starting, the laughter continues till everyone is bent over.

Worth looking out for when you're on a morning stroll.

AC Chair Car- have no worries. Your friend will be OK.

Flying Ranee is almost a commuter train with most of the crowd being daily office-goers who work in Mumbai but abhor living there. They do not harrass passengers...rather coerece them to share their seat. The only harrassment you get in a train is from clapping transvestites/eunuchs :-)

But let me tell you, Flying Ranee is a lousy train and the word 'Flying' is a joke. It is a Crawling Ranee.

Apologies for digging up this prehistoric more-than-half-a-decade-old thread but I just wanted to object to the term lousy for this train as used by the poster above. It is a lifeline for many users travelling daily from Surat to Mumbai and has a character of its own. I know people who met on this train and are happily married now. (I have a GF too in here whom I met on this train and hopefully if all goes well... :P)

Lousy yes, if you are a one off passenger who used the train for a single journey. :P

It is strange to note that this rail related thread is still receiving response, even after remaining at wrong location, i.e., in Domestic India Flights Forum!

Could be relocated to Indian Railways Forum!

Relocated to Indian Railways.