The first Humsafar Express to touch Chennai Egmore had absolutely nothing going right as it was trolled even in its fag end of the journey.
PROLOGUE
From being before time a little before Bhopal, to being 1 hour late at Bhopal, 2 hours late at Nagpur, 4 hours late at Balharshah, 5 hours late at Vijayawada and finally 12 hours late at Chennai Egmore while being 9 hours 42 minutes late at Tambaram, courtesy some serious slack.
The train departed Vijayawada soon after I woke up, at 5.40 AM in the morning. Given that it had just 2 halts, I expected the train to be given full priority as there was no other train in front of it, although the high priority Pinakini Express was chasing it, albeit with more halts.
The screw up started around 10 AM at Nellore. Humsafar was looped at every alternate station and overtaken by Pinakini, Bangalore bound Sanghamitra, Shalimar - Chennai Express and the Ongole - Gudur MEMU. Added to this was a line block near Odur that blocked the trains that were now ahead of it.
PRESENT
A fine run from Gudur in Southern Railway meant the train reached Chennai Beach by 5.00 PM. However, there was yet another problem at Egmore. Two trains, Pondicherry - Howrah Superfast and Villupuram - Kharagpur Superfast were diverted via Chennai Egmore - Rengiunta instead of the usual route of Thiruvannamalai - Vellore Cantt - Katpadi - Renigunta. This lead to absolute chaos as the number of platforms at Egmore proved absolutely insufficient.
Chengalpattu - Kacheguda arrived at Egmore as per schedule and departed at 5.05 PM. This was followed by the Puducherry - Howrah SF. Both departed from PF 6. Then, Chengalpattu - Kakinada Circar Express entered PF5 even as Kanyakumari SF left from 4. Villupuram - Kharagpur followed Circar onto PF 6. Sethu left from PF 9 and Boat Mail was shunted onto the same. Meanwhile, Chennai Beach was in chaos. There were Humsafar and Jodhpur - Egmore SF waiting at Beach, Tamil Nadu Sampark Kranti at Washermanpet and it was the evening peak hour as well. Once Circar departed, there was an announcement of Humsafar arriving at 6 PM. It was 6.20 PM and Tirumalpur Fast entered the PF5 where Humsafar was supposed to be berthed. Meanwhile, the Vellore Fast from Melmaruvathur arrived on PF4. Kharagpur SF was still on PF 6. Both the locals left and Humsafar finally arrived at 6.40 PM, taking a good 100 minutes for the 4 Km from Beach to Egmore. As soon as Humsafar arrived, Kharagpur SF left. Chengalpattu Fast was coming on PF6 and Cholan arrived on PF4.
EPILOGUE
Out of the blue, Chengalpattu Fast and Humsafar departed parallel from Egmore. The fast local was switched to the A line at Kodambakkam as the rake of Pearl City was waiting on the B line to be shunted to Egmore. Humsafar followed the local to Tambaram, finally reaching at 7.42 PM, late by 10 hours 42 minutes.
PROLOGUE
From being before time a little before Bhopal, to being 1 hour late at Bhopal, 2 hours late at Nagpur, 4 hours late at Balharshah, 5 hours late at Vijayawada and finally 12 hours late at Chennai Egmore while being 9 hours 42 minutes late at Tambaram, courtesy some serious slack.
The train departed Vijayawada soon after I woke up, at 5.40 AM in the morning. Given that it had just 2 halts, I expected the train to be given full priority as there was no other train in front of it, although the high priority Pinakini Express was chasing it, albeit with more halts.
The screw up started around 10 AM at Nellore. Humsafar was looped at every alternate station and overtaken by Pinakini, Bangalore bound Sanghamitra, Shalimar - Chennai Express and the Ongole - Gudur MEMU. Added to this was a line block near Odur that blocked the trains that were now ahead of it.
PRESENT
A fine run from Gudur in Southern Railway meant the train reached Chennai Beach by 5.00 PM. However, there was yet another problem at Egmore. Two trains, Pondicherry - Howrah Superfast and Villupuram - Kharagpur Superfast were diverted via Chennai Egmore - Rengiunta instead of the usual route of Thiruvannamalai - Vellore Cantt - Katpadi - Renigunta. This lead to absolute chaos as the number of platforms at Egmore proved absolutely insufficient.
Chengalpattu - Kacheguda arrived at Egmore as per schedule and departed at 5.05 PM. This was followed by the Puducherry - Howrah SF. Both departed from PF 6. Then, Chengalpattu - Kakinada Circar Express entered PF5 even as Kanyakumari SF left from 4. Villupuram - Kharagpur followed Circar onto PF 6. Sethu left from PF 9 and Boat Mail was shunted onto the same. Meanwhile, Chennai Beach was in chaos. There were Humsafar and Jodhpur - Egmore SF waiting at Beach, Tamil Nadu Sampark Kranti at Washermanpet and it was the evening peak hour as well. Once Circar departed, there was an announcement of Humsafar arriving at 6 PM. It was 6.20 PM and Tirumalpur Fast entered the PF5 where Humsafar was supposed to be berthed. Meanwhile, the Vellore Fast from Melmaruvathur arrived on PF4. Kharagpur SF was still on PF 6. Both the locals left and Humsafar finally arrived at 6.40 PM, taking a good 100 minutes for the 4 Km from Beach to Egmore. As soon as Humsafar arrived, Kharagpur SF left. Chengalpattu Fast was coming on PF6 and Cholan arrived on PF4.
EPILOGUE
Out of the blue, Chengalpattu Fast and Humsafar departed parallel from Egmore. The fast local was switched to the A line at Kodambakkam as the rake of Pearl City was waiting on the B line to be shunted to Egmore. Humsafar followed the local to Tambaram, finally reaching at 7.42 PM, late by 10 hours 42 minutes.
