A diverse group of individuals, including a monk, a patient, and several migrant laborers, found delight in a scenic journey to various destinations during the inaugural voyage of the Malda-SMVT Bengaluru Amrit Bharat Express.
Among the passengers was Divyanath, a septuagenarian monk en route to Kamakhya, who altered his plans upon encountering the Amrit Bharat Express at Bardhaman station in West Bengal. While originally bound for Guwahati, he embarked on this new southbound train, ultimately intending to visit the Jagannath Temple in Puri. Reflecting on his spiritual journey, Divyanath, seated in one of the gleaming new bogies, shared his experiences traveling across the country for decades, from Himachal to Kanyakumari and Gujarat to Nagaland. Transitioning from steam engine-drawn trains to the modern comforts of the new coach, he expressed optimism about the continuous evolution of new experiences over time.
Carrying only a small sack and a wooden stick, Divyanath emphasized the importance of unity among people, irrespective of differences in religion, caste, or creed. He asserted that, as citizens of Bharat, regardless of being Hindu, Muslim, or Sikh, everyone belongs to the same country, advocating for harmony and dismissing conflicts based on these differences.
Amit Bairagi, a motor mechanic, accompanied by his wife for medical reasons, considered himself fortunate to secure permission to board the Amrit Bharat Express on short notice. Facing a medical recurrence, they urgently needed to reach a hospital in Bengaluru. Learning about the inaugural run just a day before, they managed to obtain a pass in time, highlighting the challenges of securing reservations on short notice.
Tony Mondal, an unskilled laborer in Bengaluru, along with about 20 colleagues, received free passes for the journey to the Karnataka capital from Malda. After three years of working as a migrant laborer in Bengaluru, Tony had returned home for a family function. Discovering the train's inaugural run, they seized the opportunity for a free pass, considering it a blessing.
Notably, tickets were not sold for the inaugural run, and the train, set to take approximately 42 hours for its journey, will commence its commercial operations on January 7.
For these migrant workers accustomed to traveling between their homes and workplaces every six months, the experience on the new train was described as magnificent. The ergonomically designed toilets, snazzy upholstery, and various facilities provided a stark contrast to the perceived "nightmare" of traveling in the general compartments of other trains.
The Amrit Bharat Express boasts features such as radium-illuminated flooring strips, CCTV surveillance for safety, mobile charging points, standalone passenger announcements, and public information systems. The train guard operates the public address system, as detailed by South Eastern Railway spokesperson Aditya Kumar Chaudhary.
In addition to the diverse passenger mix, several school students were treated to joyrides for short durations on the train, one of the two Amrit Bharat Express trains inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.
Considering passenger demand, authorities are contemplating the possibility of increasing the frequency of the train and introducing air-conditioned coaches, according to Chowdhury.
Comprising 22 non-AC coaches, including 12 sleeper class coaches, eight general coaches, and two luggage rakes, the Amrit Bharat Express features two WAP-5 locomotives in a push-pull configuration, manufactured by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) to ensure faster acceleration and eliminate the need to switch locomotives at stations, as highlighted by Chowdhury.
