Its around 0715 in the morning when I reach Pune railway station. There's a nip in the air, Pune feels nice and comfortable. Normally I take the Deccan Queen to Mumbai which leaves from platform number 1, but today I have opted for the Pragati Superfast Express (As the station announcer always insists on emphasizing the word 'Superfaaaast' to convince passengers).
A couple and two men come running to platform number one, probably to board the Deccan Queen. One gentleman walks towards the edge of the platform, looks towards the right. He then looks towards the left and jumps pointing to the end of platform number 1, 'There it is'. His friend takes the cue and both start running. The station clock says 0718 and the Deccan Queen has left sharp at 0715 and seems to have slowed down to negotiate the points.
Looking at the two chaps running, the couple also seems to have got inspired and they start running. Looking at this group running, in start and stop mode the Deccan Queen also seems to have got inspired and starts running once she clears the points. The two chaps and the couple run for a while and seeing the 'X' mark on the last coach going farther and farther away, they stop and stand resigned.
After watching this, I start climbing the bridge to board my train, the Pragati which has been announced on platform number 5. As I climb down from the foot over bridge, the Pragati is just being shunted into the platform. I start walking and board my coach 'C2'. The Pragati has two AC Chair Car coaches and I secretly hope C2 would be the one with large windows. Sadly, it is the old Mumbai Pune liveried AC Chair Car coach with square windows.
I locate my seat, a window in a set of 3, and settle down for a meditative nap, one which makes the onlooker think I am meditating, when I am actually dozing. Sharp at 0750 the Pragati inches out of the platform. It negotiates the points and slowly screeches past Pune yard. After crossing Shivajinagar I suppose the train has had enough of a warm up session and starts jogging. Come Dehu Road and the Pragati is on a sprint.
Breakfast orders are taken and I opt for Bread and Cutlets. Breakfast arrives and the cutlets seem to have been flattened. Surprisingly, breakfast is delicious and post breakfast, I decide to enjoy the cozy environs of the coach and doze off with Alka Yagnik and Arijit Singh crooning in my ears.
The Pragati meanwhile enters Lonavala and leaves after a short halt. The ghats are crossed at a sedate speed and the golden brownish tint of the windows doesn't help when it comes to admiring the scenery. Still, some views of the valley below are breathtaking. Satisfied I go back to listening to music. At Karjat the Pragati takes a different route. All the other trains between Mumbai and Pune reach CST from Karjat via Kalyan, while the Pragati travels on a single line between Karjat and Panvel.
This single line is a treat to the eyes, since it has 3 tunnels and one seems really long judging by the time the train takes to cross it. This line is sparingly used and the Pragati and the Pune Bhushaval Express are the two passenger trains which use it. The Bhushaval Pune Express is waiting at a small station to let our Pragati Superfast Express fly by. The Pragati being a Superfast has priority on this single line section. The Bhushaval Pune Express stops at the 3 or 4 stations between Karjat and Panvel while the Pragati skips all of them.
After a while the Pragati crosses the Mumbai Pune Expressway over a girder bridge. Don't ask me why but I find this sight majestic. The Pragati stops just before Panvel as the points are set for the Mangala Lakshadweep Express to Ernakulam. Once Mangala clears the points the Pragati is admitted into the platform. Many passengers alight here. This train seems to be convenient for people working in New Mumbai.
The Pragati is off again and starts trundling towards Thane via Taloja and Nilaje. I see the Lodha township near Nilaje, and it seems quite vast. The Pragati joins the Thane Kalyan line at Diwa and after crossing the Parsik Tunnel pulls into Thane.
At Thane the announcer welcomes the passengers who have arrived by the Pragati 'Superfast' Express and requests them to keep their tickets and passes ready for inspection, to avoid delays.
I think the train heard the announcer mentioning 'Superfaaast' which refreshed its memory, because after that the Pragati ran like there was no tomorrow. Mulund, Bhandup, Vikhroli, Kanjurmarg were crossed at Maximum Permitted Speed. It slowed down near Kurla and again notched up to MPS near Sion. It entered Dadar at a very high speed and creaked to a stop.
My journey ended at Dadar and the Pragati was delayed by 10 minutes. Since it seems to have some slack built into its schedule from Dadar to CST, I surmised that it would end the journey with a delay of around 5 minutes which is right time as per Indian standards.
I was delighted to travel by this train. I do like and admire the Deccan Queen but the Queen is late by around 20 minutes whenever I have had the privilege to travel by it and that does dilute the experience of traveling by the most prestigious train of the Central Railway. The Pragati Express on the other hand seemed to prove its 'Superfaaast' status and managed to keep the delay to a minimum.
As I was getting out of Dadar station the announcer again welcomed the passengers and reminded them about the 'Superfaaast' status of the Pragati Express. I agreed....
A couple and two men come running to platform number one, probably to board the Deccan Queen. One gentleman walks towards the edge of the platform, looks towards the right. He then looks towards the left and jumps pointing to the end of platform number 1, 'There it is'. His friend takes the cue and both start running. The station clock says 0718 and the Deccan Queen has left sharp at 0715 and seems to have slowed down to negotiate the points.
Looking at the two chaps running, the couple also seems to have got inspired and they start running. Looking at this group running, in start and stop mode the Deccan Queen also seems to have got inspired and starts running once she clears the points. The two chaps and the couple run for a while and seeing the 'X' mark on the last coach going farther and farther away, they stop and stand resigned.
After watching this, I start climbing the bridge to board my train, the Pragati which has been announced on platform number 5. As I climb down from the foot over bridge, the Pragati is just being shunted into the platform. I start walking and board my coach 'C2'. The Pragati has two AC Chair Car coaches and I secretly hope C2 would be the one with large windows. Sadly, it is the old Mumbai Pune liveried AC Chair Car coach with square windows.
I locate my seat, a window in a set of 3, and settle down for a meditative nap, one which makes the onlooker think I am meditating, when I am actually dozing. Sharp at 0750 the Pragati inches out of the platform. It negotiates the points and slowly screeches past Pune yard. After crossing Shivajinagar I suppose the train has had enough of a warm up session and starts jogging. Come Dehu Road and the Pragati is on a sprint.
Breakfast orders are taken and I opt for Bread and Cutlets. Breakfast arrives and the cutlets seem to have been flattened. Surprisingly, breakfast is delicious and post breakfast, I decide to enjoy the cozy environs of the coach and doze off with Alka Yagnik and Arijit Singh crooning in my ears.
The Pragati meanwhile enters Lonavala and leaves after a short halt. The ghats are crossed at a sedate speed and the golden brownish tint of the windows doesn't help when it comes to admiring the scenery. Still, some views of the valley below are breathtaking. Satisfied I go back to listening to music. At Karjat the Pragati takes a different route. All the other trains between Mumbai and Pune reach CST from Karjat via Kalyan, while the Pragati travels on a single line between Karjat and Panvel.
This single line is a treat to the eyes, since it has 3 tunnels and one seems really long judging by the time the train takes to cross it. This line is sparingly used and the Pragati and the Pune Bhushaval Express are the two passenger trains which use it. The Bhushaval Pune Express is waiting at a small station to let our Pragati Superfast Express fly by. The Pragati being a Superfast has priority on this single line section. The Bhushaval Pune Express stops at the 3 or 4 stations between Karjat and Panvel while the Pragati skips all of them.
After a while the Pragati crosses the Mumbai Pune Expressway over a girder bridge. Don't ask me why but I find this sight majestic. The Pragati stops just before Panvel as the points are set for the Mangala Lakshadweep Express to Ernakulam. Once Mangala clears the points the Pragati is admitted into the platform. Many passengers alight here. This train seems to be convenient for people working in New Mumbai.
The Pragati is off again and starts trundling towards Thane via Taloja and Nilaje. I see the Lodha township near Nilaje, and it seems quite vast. The Pragati joins the Thane Kalyan line at Diwa and after crossing the Parsik Tunnel pulls into Thane.
At Thane the announcer welcomes the passengers who have arrived by the Pragati 'Superfast' Express and requests them to keep their tickets and passes ready for inspection, to avoid delays.
I think the train heard the announcer mentioning 'Superfaaast' which refreshed its memory, because after that the Pragati ran like there was no tomorrow. Mulund, Bhandup, Vikhroli, Kanjurmarg were crossed at Maximum Permitted Speed. It slowed down near Kurla and again notched up to MPS near Sion. It entered Dadar at a very high speed and creaked to a stop.
My journey ended at Dadar and the Pragati was delayed by 10 minutes. Since it seems to have some slack built into its schedule from Dadar to CST, I surmised that it would end the journey with a delay of around 5 minutes which is right time as per Indian standards.
I was delighted to travel by this train. I do like and admire the Deccan Queen but the Queen is late by around 20 minutes whenever I have had the privilege to travel by it and that does dilute the experience of traveling by the most prestigious train of the Central Railway. The Pragati Express on the other hand seemed to prove its 'Superfaaast' status and managed to keep the delay to a minimum.
As I was getting out of Dadar station the announcer again welcomed the passengers and reminded them about the 'Superfaaast' status of the Pragati Express. I agreed....
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