Recently, we had some welcome news of the planned upgradation of Indian Railways waiting rooms. Any change in the usually crowded, ill-equipped and none to clean areas can only be an improvement. But will this solve the problems that so many in India face while travelling by train? The railways may be the lifeline of the country but rail travel in India is far from the enjoyable and exciting experience that it can and should be.
Waiting rooms on railway platforms will now have TVs, light refreshments, toilet facilities and upgraded furniture. A pilot project would be undertaken by the Delhi Division. For those who have to wait when the weather is foggy or other reasons have delayed trains, this will help make long waits less tedious. This will certainly make one aspect of rail travel easier, but several other problems remain.
Puddles, broken tiles, garbage, perhaps some stray animals, people sleeping just about anywhere – these are just a few of the issues that a regular traveller will encounter on the railway platform.
There is still no efficient waste management system on trains. Manual scavenging is still a shameful reality. Indian Railways are still putting up largely ignored signs in the bathrooms that say – 'please don’t use the bathroom while the train is stationary'.
Stations often have several platforms with trains departing from distant platforms requiring a lot of stair climbing and walking often over uneven surfaces. Our trains are difficult to climb in and out of. Elderly people or those with disabilities have severe problems.
While this is the only mode of transport for many, it is not cheap. Travel by so-called first class and A/C coaches is almost as expensive as discounted air tickets; making air travel faster and much more convenient for a lot of people.
It is still possible to bribe a tout to get a ticket or to bribe a ticket collector to ‘create’ a seat or berth. Booking train tickets is a lot easier now with online bookings, but there are glitches and the site tends to be slow.
Dust, dirt, vermin, litter, dirty toilets – you can expect all this on board a regular Indian train. Uncaring passengers are at least as guilty as those who are responsible for keeping trains clean. Poor quality of food and dirty bed linen are other issues that travellers simply have to live with.
Ever noticed how there is strange smell about rail travel? It is a smell of rust, dirty toilets, stale food other unsavoury things.
Such a scene is not uncommon. The train is delayed, and then when it does arrive there is a mad rush to get in. People suffer untold, inconvenience, loss and stress as a result.
Rail derailments are common. Modernisation is a significant issue with the rail network being vast and funds scarce. Good waiting rooms are a step in the right direction. It remains to be seen whether there exists the political will to actually make a difference to the Indian Railways and the entire rail travel experience in India.
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