IRCTC - The worlds largest employer

Welcome to the Karvanatti Express. Huge thanks to the lovely Indian lady from First Class who talked to me whilst we waited, and got her son to get my Indian simcard to work. Then after she was settled in her carriage, returned to make sure I had found my seat and didn’t need anything, and finally showered me with kisses and blessings. Nobody has looked at my ticket yet. All throughout the journey IRCTC staff walk up and down the corridors selling hot and cold food, and hot and cold drinks.

‘coffee, chai, chai coffee, chai’
‘soup, soup’
‘byriani, samosa’
‘Bailey water’
‘juice, juice’

I though I was offered an omelet, but I have a byriani. This is the second time today. My breakfast was bread and butter, hard boiled eggs and crisps because I didn’t understand.

Still no one has looked at my ticket yet. You could travel hundreds of miles out of your way if you made a mistake! Having said that, I think this is a wonderful organisation. It is big and complex, with many classes of carriage and a rather convoluted system of booking a ticket, which becomes clear the more you use it. There is air-con in most of the carriages. The poorer Indians still travel in the open door style although I didn't see any on the roof. They carry their luggage wrapped in cloth, huge great bundles tied with string.

I'm so glad I decided to travel by train where possible. Althought I've been asked since
'Karnavati? Why did you choose the Karnavati? It is so slow and boring'.
Well I chose the Karnavati because I was rubbish at booking. Ok? You need to book early, very, very, very early.