Middle berth given to my Mom (53 years travelling alone)

andy_hi

I booked an online eticket for June 1 from delhi to banagalore in train 2650. I opted for ladies quota and preference as side lower berth in sleeper class(SL). There were 101 tickets available and i was expecting SLR berth.

After making payment when i downloaded the ticket, to my horror it showed middle berth has been given to the passenger !

My mom is 53 travelling alone and prefer side lower berth.

My question is:

1) I need to book return ticket from bangalore to delhi in last week of june. Is it advisable to go to ticket counter and book ticket for side lower berth ? I read on internet there is a good chance to get berth preference while booking ticket at counter rather then booking online.

Thanks in advance for useful suggestions.

elegbedebarbara

Hi Andy. if you are unable to get a change of birth: Your mom can just wait until she gets to the train and ask the conductor on her car for a change, either that, or the other persons in the beds near by. usually people don't mind changing especially for an older person. I am in my sixties and I never asked but I notice that it was automatically given to me. I always thought that if I had been given an upper birth I would have just asked people around me, or the conductor. People are generally very nice in India and accmmodating.

Nick-H

Mrs N manages the upper birth without much trouble, though I have to admit that I find it difficult climbing up there.

People do try to accommodate each other, but I'm sure she'll manage a middle berth if she has to.

I wish I was 53 again!

Mickey S

I'm not 53 yet, but it's hardly old, is it? It's barely middle-aged these days.

My mother (70) happily used top and bottom berths during our recent trip round India.

Valini

That's pretty damn good Mickey! Your mum must be a very fit and agile 70.
I don't think we can really use the age as a factor, the op's mum might be a more 'fragile' 53 than others. but true, my parents both recently turned 60 would be able to cope with a middle berth but perhaps not a top one.

capt_mahajan

Agree with elegbedebarbara's post completely.

Ok, maybe disagree a little with the Indians being generally very nice bit.

As for the return ticket, I wouldn't go too much out of my way to go to a counter to book one for a berth preference, if indeed chances of that are better.

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Mickey S

She was... and she also possessed an amazing ability to see the good and wondrous in everything and everybody. In our travels round India she loved every moment of every single day - even the overnight journey in SL that my other half and I found almost unbearably noisy, cold and downright never-to-be-repeated disgusting! She was unfailingly elegant, and was the centre of attention wherever we went; she must feature in a thousand photographs of total strangers, right across India. She even got unwanted attention from leering builders at Amber Fort, something that she was quietly quite proud of. Towards the end of our trip she told me that she had the time of her life, and that she'd never forget it; and it was, indeed, the best holiday ever.

She's no longer with us, but as long as there's an India then I'll have the memories of that last trip together.

Valini

What a beautiful description of your mother.

Very well worded, brought a tear to my eye.

From your wonderful description, I'm sure she was a marvelous lady, and your example of the train journey goes to show you too, that we are never happy, and perhaps only when we reach a certain point (either in life or in our minds) those other things don't matter as much.
you've just made my night. danuwad!

chAos

A lovely sentiment, Mickey S. Thanks for sharing.

edwardseco

A grand dame in the best sense of the word. Reminds me of my my mother in law, a plucky camper in her 70's. I miss her often..

capt_mahajan

Mickey S, real glad that India gave your mother some happiness.

Nick-H

I think Mickey S's mum probably gave India a great deal of happiness too

Mickey S

I've taken the liberty of posting a photograph of my mother on the site, here.

For no reason other than the hope that the image will somehow survive in cyberspace long after we're all forgotten.

Nick-H

And she's wearing my favourite colours

A lovely picture

bijapuri

Here's what I'd do:

I'd get to the station platform an hour early, and go to the office of the assistant stationmaster. They will (insh'allah . . .) do the needful

Wow, now that I'm in my late 50's and don't walk too good . . . mebbe I can game it too. Actually I'll always prefer the top berth, as long as I can bet there. It's the best place for a fossil to take his daily siesta!

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