Boxed In

People like me tend to romanticize unreserved second class train travel in India by mentioning how it allows one to ‘connect’ with locals and people who aren’t that well off. But the reality is very different.

Unreserved travel like this is mostly a test of endurance – with passengers packed in like cattle, no proper regulation on the amount of people allowed in a coach and a system in which railway staff corner these seats at the starting station and auctioning them off to the highest bidder.

5 Responses to “Boxed In”

  1. 1 Feb 2010 at 8:24 am Sasidhar Akkiraju

    Great photo! Love it.

  2. 1 Feb 2010 at 8:38 am Joel Suganth

    Unreserved compartment has its charms when its almost empty and when the track runs along green fields on a good day. Otherwise, its pure hell. A long time ago, I h ad to travel unreserved class because I could not afford any other, and it was agony! in a cabin for 8-10 more than thirty people were sitting once!!! thirty!!! every one and to be hunched into a position and stay that way for the next 8 hours. and one cannot place foot on the ground because there is someone sitting there!!!
    Indian Railways should have more unreserved compartments or regulate it in such a way that people who travel unreserved should be able to travel in relative comfort.

  3. 1 Feb 2010 at 10:50 am Rahul

    brilliant pic, very well done.

  4. 3 Feb 2010 at 1:17 pm Pranav Shah

    well said, train travel… delicate travel experience for some, and a painful reality for millions.

  5. 14 Feb 2010 at 11:10 pm paul

    good one Bharath

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