TRAIN FACILITIES & BOOKING
We traveled by this train Belgaum Bangalore Express from Hubli to Bangalore. This is a new train and it looks more spacious and clean. A/c was working fine and there are enough mobile charging points , as well. Toilets are spacious and clean. Good job done on many counts.
Few points for improvements:
1. The table provided in the compartment between berths is plastic and flimsy. It is not foldable and people sitting at the window seat necessarily take support from that to get up . With the weight on it, it is a matter of time it will break.
2. The bottle holders provided beneath that table is a novel idea but the holders are not compatible with most of the bottles including "RAIL NEER' bottles. A better contraption has to be devised.
3. Steps for climbing upper berths require real skills and on one of the sides there is a ladder only on one side and it starts from a height that is inconvenient for most to climb. Better designing is a MUST.
4. An emergency light (green/Red colour) is placed in such an inconvenient place on the roof that the light falls directly on the face of the person sleeping on the top berth. That needs to be changed or a contraption provided to see that it does not directly hit the eye of the person on the top berth.
BERTH ALLOTMENTS:
I have read about the complex method and the reasoning given for the algorithm of Berth allocation. The algo needs change. While I accept the rationale for berth allocation logic, the point that needs to be kept in mind is that many of the trains run full or near full most of the times and there are hardly any vacancies. Considering this , berth should be allotted to youngsters in upper and middle berths especially when they specifically ask for upper berths. It is observed that most of the times Senior citizens are allotted upper berths making it impossible for them to occupy it. Since these train runs full most of the times, it should be made mandatory that all the lower berths are reserved for senior citizens expect where people travel in bigger groups or families so that they are bunched together.
It is observed that even when the booking is done much in advance and there are enough vacancies the lower berths are not being allotted to Seniors.
Please consider the above points as they are very relevant and serves the needs of all passengers.
Anirudh more