Kalka shatabdi express.
I am just back from a trip with my partner to Chandigarh via Kalka Shatabdi Express. We had booked the AC Chair Car two months back and there were about 600 seats available. I was surprised to face these issues :
1. Both ways we were given seats on the three seat side instead of the two seat side. Whenever we have travelled in the past, we have always got the two seat side so it is easy for couples to spend time together freely. This time I was so irritated and was perplexed why irctc gave us seats this way even when there were so many seats available. On the way to Chandigarh we had a mother with a small child seated beside us, which was quite a disturbance and we could not even talk to each other much or rest. On the way back we were lucky to get a guy sitting beside us who was busy with his phone but still we felt very awkward to even talk to each other.
The passengers should be given the right to choose their seats, just like in flights. Train fares are not cheap like before and the passengers should have the option to choose the seats or at least show which seats are being allotted.
2. The train for onward journey to Chandigarh, the bathrooms were pathetic. I wish I had taken pictures. They were worse than public toilets, absolutely filthy, no hand wash, whole bathroom was black in colour with water everywhere. We pay a lot for Shatabdi, the passengers need decent, clean bathrooms. On the way back, the train was much better, thank God.
3. At Chandigarh railway station, instead of getting a local taxi when the taxi guys were pestering us, we went to the government taxi counter to book a cab to take us to the hotel in Panchkula thinking we will not be cheated. Boy I got a shock when my partner came back and said it will cost us Rs.2000/- one way to Panchkula whereas the hotel guy had told us it is a short trip about half hour to 45 minutes and taxi will cost about 500-600 rs. We got into the taxi and I started arguing with the cab guy who was pretending he is very honest and nice. He said we dont need to pay 2000 but whatever is the journey duration we can pay. When we reached the hotel, he charged us 1000 outright. What cheats we have in this country. I really thought Chandigarh is a good place unlike other states.
If this is the case with Indians, I cant even imagine the plight with foreigners. The railways should look into such incidents and see that such things do not occur.
Can irctc do something about the issues listed above ?? more
1. Both ways we were given seats on the three seat side instead of the two seat side. Whenever we have travelled in the past, we have always got the two seat side so it is easy for couples to spend time together freely. This time I was so irritated and was perplexed why irctc gave us seats this way even when there were so many seats available. On the way to Chandigarh we had a mother with a small child seated beside us, which was quite a disturbance and we could not even talk to each other much or rest. On the way back we were lucky to get a guy sitting beside us who was busy with his phone but still we felt very awkward to even talk to each other.
The passengers should be given the right to choose their seats, just like in flights. Train fares are not cheap like before and the passengers should have the option to choose the seats or at least show which seats are being allotted.
2. The train for onward journey to Chandigarh, the bathrooms were pathetic. I wish I had taken pictures. They were worse than public toilets, absolutely filthy, no hand wash, whole bathroom was black in colour with water everywhere. We pay a lot for Shatabdi, the passengers need decent, clean bathrooms. On the way back, the train was much better, thank God.
3. At Chandigarh railway station, instead of getting a local taxi when the taxi guys were pestering us, we went to the government taxi counter to book a cab to take us to the hotel in Panchkula thinking we will not be cheated. Boy I got a shock when my partner came back and said it will cost us Rs.2000/- one way to Panchkula whereas the hotel guy had told us it is a short trip about half hour to 45 minutes and taxi will cost about 500-600 rs. We got into the taxi and I started arguing with the cab guy who was pretending he is very honest and nice. He said we dont need to pay 2000 but whatever is the journey duration we can pay. When we reached the hotel, he charged us 1000 outright. What cheats we have in this country. I really thought Chandigarh is a good place unlike other states.
If this is the case with Indians, I cant even imagine the plight with foreigners. The railways should look into such incidents and see that such things do not occur.
Can irctc do something about the issues listed above ?? more
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Chandigarh is City Of Chors( Thieves) although it looks like good. In North & east india like calcutta , everybody want easy money. peoples should always use Public transport instead of taxi or they can book OLA / UBER. In India this is democracy, where the peoples behaves as they want . No rules & regulation. Govt. is no where . The News paper front page gives the live witness. more
Aug 07
Travelling by train is my passion and whenever I get a chance to travel, I prefer train journey for long and as well short distances. But nowadays train journey became so horrible in Kerala. Trains running through the State are with very old coaches, slow moving and its toilets are very dirty in nature and also without any cleaning. Trains are not at all punctual and cancels very often without any planning.. Even at peak hours there will be no train services between the cities. Inter city services are very less and limited. We have not seen the present day modern trains like Shatabdi, Humsafar,Tejas Antyodaya, Uday, Yuva , Gatiman ,Double decker etc etc in our stretch of Rail routes. Now, most of the people who preferred train journey has turned to air travel for long distance and Buses for short distance journeys. ,Altogether, train services in Kerala State has been terribly neglected and takes step motherly treatment by the Railway Board and the Railway Zonal office located at Chennai. more
Aug 04
Noted the content. Ticket is booked through Sot ware and therefore it seems , nothing additional can be done. more
Aug 01
Is the software is designed by good? Every thing offered by them should be accepted without any questions more
Aug 07
that is the reason at many places police has put prepaid Auto/ taxi counters to take care of such swindlers. I believe there is one in Chandigarh you need to approach them. more
Aug 01
