Team,
Here is the full journey report and photographs/Video of my travel in 12394 NDLS-PNBE SK on 8th March:
*************************************Before I left home, I called 139 and inquired about status of SK express at 4:30 PM. They said that it will leave on time at 5:30 PM. Hence I reached NDLS Railway station at 5:10 PM, only to find that train has still not been put on the platform and will be late and may leave by 8 PM. I along with my family decided to wait at the platform. As we entered...
more... platform no 16, it was announce d that the train is being placed. At 5:55 PM train was placed on platform 16 and left for its journey at 6:20 PM(late by 1 hr).
It started very slow and stopped near Gaziabad for 30 mins. I was with my family in 1A. By that time Soup and snacks person from pantry car was serving needs of passengers. Tomato soup at Rs. 18 was tasty. Aw crossed Aligarh at 9:30 PM and by that time Non Veg thali was served(price Rs. 130). The food was not bad, but I was worried with the speed of train. Still it managed to arrive 1:20 AM at Kanpur central, PF no 4. As we arrived varanasi-NDLS Shivganga was waiting on PF-1. Train statyed for 10 mins and left for Allahabad and as we left we met, NDLS bound Brabamaputra Mail entering PF no 2.
Bermuda Ti angle starts
************************************
Train was stopped before Allahabad for 1 hr and entered Allahabad at 4:30 AM. It left at 5 AM. It was immediately stopped near Naini for 3 hrs. As I woke up at 6:30 AM, I saw that we have still not reached Vindhyachal. The train was standing before Vindhyachal till 8 AM and crossed Mirzapur by 9 AM. It was immediately stooped again and after 6 hrs, it reached MGS at 11:10 AM. I called the operator sitting in Allahabad and asked him the reason for stopping a train for 6 hrs. he said that the rail traffic is very heavy from Allahabad to MGS. I told him that I will write mail to DRM/GM seeking their reply. After MGS train started running with full speed towards Patna and entered Patna Jun PF no 3 at 3:10 PM, A FULL DELAY OF 8 HRS 10 MINS
************************************
Conclusion:
Allahabad controllers are playing dirty game with this train for last 6 months. Train staff told me that the reason is that the controllers take bribe from private goods(containers) and give more priority to goods train. They do this with all trains from Ald-MGS going towards Bihar/Patna except with Raj. They also told me that last month, angry passengers of SK, held the driver and guard hostage for 2-3 hrs near Ald. still things have not changed.
*************************************
Next step:
I am filing a RTI seeking arrival/departure of 12394 SK for last 6 months at Kanpur, Allahabad, MGS and PNBE. Then I will most likely file a letter to Railway Minister, DRM and GM NCR and ECR.