How dangerous are indian trains?

shashank.aggarwal

its supposed to do that...

according to the government reports it netted a cool US $ 3.5 Billion in 2006-07 and is expected to hit US $ 5 Billion

http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/feb/26bud5.htm

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Nick-H

Apparently, Indian railways is the only Government-owned railway system in the world to make a profit.

Whether it belongs to him, or to some very clever bureaucrats, is a point sometimes argued, but the current minister responsible, Lalu Prasad Yadav gets the credit for bringing this about.

Brits... compare the mismash mess of Mr Major's privatised system and weep

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shashank.aggarwal

and if things turn out to be good it can do far better than now..I assume that it looses a lot of revenue to the freeloaders in rural belts..

and add to that passenger tickets (not sure upto which class)are subsidised by the profits they make from freight...

jhansiboy

Indian Railways are an experience in themselves.You have not really seen India unless you have travelled on a passenger service and observed the vast humanity of this country through the train window.
From the moment you approach the ticket window and are told with shaking head that there is 'no chance'of you getting a booking,to the annoying habit of someone actually inviting themselves in to your compartment and sitting on your reserved bunk,
you are in for adventure.
Hey!Don't let this put you off.It is worth the experience.In the days of steam you even had time to discover the various station platforms,as it took
some time for the locomotives to refill their water stock.
Quite safe,but watch your bags and be careful of the usual larks.

Bhaswaran

Yes Kristinm, Indian Railways is running on profit now.....not just this year, but for a couple or more.....

Sadanand Kamath

...and 'Biscuit Bandits' as coined by Nick-H, I guess.

Sadanand

steven_ber

Biscuit Bandits wouldn't be such a problem if they just speeded the trains up.

My first encounter with Biscuit Bandits was on the Bramaputra Mail, chugging through Bihar on a warm April morning about 4 years ago.

I had the carriage door open and was sitting watching India wake up, as we slowly passed though villages and crossed rivers I was hoping we'd reach the next station soon so I could get some breakfast and Chai.

I've seen many different modes of transport in India, but was still shocked to see a large group of locals riding on horses in the distance, they seemed to be in such a hurry too, if only my train could match their speed I might get to Assam by the following morning.

I realise I must still be half asleep when, for a moment I thought they were all wearing sombreros, but suddenly as they came closer and closer to the train they all started firing guns in the air, I looked around for cameras as I was sure there must be a Bollywood movie being filmed, I mean, nothing bad ever happens in India, right?

I started to get worried and locked the carriage door and ran back to my old First Class compartment, was I dreaming???

Then suddenly a gun appeared through the open window in my compartment, at the end of the gun was a man on a horse trying desperately to keep up with the train, the man was shouting something, the galloping horses, screaming(me ) and the normal train noises made it very difficult to understand him, he seemed to be asking for "Biscuits", surely not?

What can I do, if I'm wrong and offer him a biscuit he will kill me, and if I don’t....the decision is taken away from me when another man opens the door of my compartment, as he rushes in his sombrero jams in the doorway, it would be comical if it wasn't so serious, especially when he too starts demanding my biscuits, what the hell do I do now?

The man at the window has now lost his horse and is clinging to the window bars, he's looking desperate, but still manages to keep his gun pointed at me whilst screaming "Biscuits, Biscuits!!", The other man is still trying to free his sombrero from the doorway so I take a chance and try to barge past him, but this dislodges his sombrero and he grabs my leg as I almost get past him, as I make another desperate attempt to escape he starts pulling my leg.

Just like I'm pulling yours.

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steven_ber

'Pulling your leg' is another way of saying "I'm joking"

I shouldn't joke about such a serious issue.

'Biscuit Bandits' is a way of describing people who give you biscuits (or food or drinks) full of sleeping tablets, then when you fall asleep, they take all your money and valuables.

Although there is very little chance of this happening to tourists, this kind of crime seems to be on the increase and seems to be spreading and moving away from the 'usual' areas.

A couple of Indians fell victim to this crime last week on a Goa-Mumbai train.

But I must say again, this kind of crime is rare, usually in unreserved carriages, but sometimes in Sleeper Class (non air con), and very rarely in air con classes.

Just be careful who you accept food or drinks from.

ba9rn

Why did I read through all that?

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Nick-H

Steven... I love your tall stories.

Eleven people from one train were admitted, unconscious, to a government hospital in Chennai a couple of weeks back. Minus their valuables, of course. From an unreserved carriage.

The chances of this happening to anyone in the reserved classes is really slim. The biscuit bandits need to be able to move among their potential victims, picking out the best targets. Their investment is cheap tickets, and a large number of possibilities. If they targeted AC classes, they would have to spend what to them would be a lot of money, with a high risk that they might not get anything other than a couple of mobiles, a little cash and a case full of business papers from the few other unpredictable passengers in their compartment.

But take care. And remember; the con man's profession is to appear pleasant and plausible. But mostly, socialising on an Indian train will be a great experience!

The pickings are likely to be much richer in the 'cheaper seats' --- a family may well be wearing quite a lot of gold on its necks!

wonderwomanusa

Penalty for that is to rent and watch "Bhowani Junction."

Prashant.M

for your next life .
Shocking isn't it but it has been making profits for the past three years or so. Lalu has become famous in the business circle for pulling this off. It has become a case study in a few business schools.

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Prashant.M

Steven, that was hilarious

Amyth

Yeash! The case study on Indian Railways has made to the Harvard...

http://in.news.yahoo.com/061227/43/6amid.html

Kaise?! Hamka kya maluum bhaiyaa!!

I guess the credit goes to strategic space management

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kristinm

Wish it would become a case study here in Sydney - the fares go up and up, the service gets worse and worse and they run at an enormous loss.