Mumbai to Bangalore journey in Udyan express (6529) (express is indeed a mockery term) on Saturday 10th Oct 09 was a nightmare. Actually the departure time was scheduled at 08:05 in the morning from Mumbai CST. We came in hurry getting up by 4.00 am from Andheri to CST only to know that the departure time was scheduled to 20.15 hours in the night. The en query window was crowded and the staff showing no interest to explain for the delay. Senior citizens, children lot of passangers were cursing the Indian Railway. When the authorities taking the passenger contact number while booking the ticket, why not they inform the delay? Even sending a message is more than enough. They treat the passengers as taken for granted...
Again...
more... went back to our huge luggage in the loaded local train. When we searched in net, the departure time of the 6529 train was showing as 08.05! When we contacted to station no body was there to pick the call. We came back again hesitantly in the night, fortunatle (or unfortunately) the train departed at 20.15 as rescheduled. But then started the marathon journey and stopping for the crossings.
The delay was due to heavey raining in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, and the train route was diverted from pune to guntkal via Hubli. The train use to stop in every stations for making way to other trains.
At last it came to Bangalore on Monday at 11 am. (Actually it was scheduled to arrive on Sunday 08.15! So 27 hours delay!)The unfortuanet continues, at the Windsor manor bridge, hardly a KM away from Bangalore Jn. two youths were falling prey to the train... of course it was the youths mistake. But if the train came as scheduled, the tragedy might have avoided...