The Ranchi Rajdhani Ac 3 tier.

The Rajdhani Express Service has been criticized on numerous grounds. Disgruntled passengers have condemned it of being outdated and ill-fitted, crucified it on maintenance and unbecoming behaviour, yet gone back to it every time a long distant journey beckoned and the express was headed that way.

The simple fact being, that there exists no other long-distance train service with a better record of getting passengers to their destination on scheduled time, safely, and as comfortably as possible – unless one considers later entrants like the Shatabdi and the Duronto.

To be fair to passengers who have voiced strong opinions, every now and then, the Rajdhani is definitely no stranger to blunders. Its large windows are never spotlessly clean and its staff sometimes lazy.

The Indian Railway, on its part, has weighed serious complaints with sincerity and taken quick action on most occasions. Just as it has continued to fine-tune services and add in new facilities to keep up the popularity of the express service – that, despite the occasional criticism, is a legend on Indian railway tracks.

The Rajdhani passenger express has been a forerunner of change.

In 1969 when the first one departed New Delhi for the station of Howrah in Kolkatta, it established an era of superfast trains in the country – acquainting wayfarers accustomed to lengthy hours of train travel and delays, with speed, comfort and air-conditioned carriages.

See Farbound.Net Story: The First of the Superfasts >

Not long after, it once more lived up to its reputation by becoming the first in India to provide passengers with Wi-Fi connectivity. In addition to also becoming the first to use a locally built variant of the German LBH type coach – fitted with advanced safety features and an early fire warning system.

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What’s more, since 2017, the express service has been in the process of gradually upgrading all its trains with the home-built Tejas variant of coaches – which upon completion will effectively transform it into the Tejas Rajdhani Passenger Express.

In its new and evolved avatar, it will provide passengers with enhanced features in comfort and other facilities.

Debut of the Ranchi Rajdhani.

The Ranchi Rajdhani, a part of the Rajdhani Passenger Express Service, was initiated on the 17th of October in 2001- some ten months after the formation of the state of Jharkhand with Ranchi as its capital city.

Which officially took place on the 15th of November, 2000.

The train service was inducted to connect Delhi to the newly designated state capital – and was inaugurated by Indian politician Nitish Kumar, a former minister of Indian Railways.

On its inception, it had operated on a weekly basis – and connected Delhi to Ranchi via the stations of Bokaro and Hatia.

In 2004, it had begun to operate on a bi-weekly basis and from 2006 onwards, it had extended its reach to cover the destinations of Prayagraj, Mughalsarai, Daltongang, Barkakana and Muri. In 2016, the train service had further extended its range to include the stations of Lohardaga and Tori.

Made possible by the construction of the Ranchi-Lohardaga and the Lohardaga-Tori broad gauge railway lines.

Trains of the Northern Railways.

The Northern Railways, a division of the Indian Railways, currently manages six of these superfast trains that connect the capital cities of Delhi and Ranchi as well as several other stations that fall en route and beyond.

Among them, the Ndls Rnc Raj Exp (Train No. 20840) is one of the long-distance runners that operate on a biweekly basis and ferry over a thousand passengers to their destination in an eighteen-hour journey – barring aside unforeseen technical snags, traffic and low visibility in winter months.

The other five trains of the Ranchi Rajdhani: The Rnc Ndls Raj Exp (Train No. 20407), the Rnc Ndls Raj Exp (Train No. 12453), the Rnc Rajdhani (Train No. 20408), the Rnc Ndls Raj Exp (Train No: 20839), and the Rnc Rajdhani (Train No. 12454), all operate on a weekly basis.

See Farbound.Net Story: Trains of the Ranchi Rajdhani >

Collectively, all six trains of the Ranchi Rajdhani, offer a very large population of Indian wayfarers with a much-preferred choice of long-distance transport.

An excellent long-distance transport.

The Ranchi Rajdhani does not pretend to be a luxury train and neither is it one by a long shot. None of the trains of this service is anything like the IRCTC’s opulent Maharaja Express, more popularly known as the Place on Wheels. A train cum hospitality offering which by virtue of its exorbitantly high passage fare draws in only an elite Indian and foreign clientele.

These trains are only excellent long-distance passenger transports, and are meant for India’s large population of lower and middle-class income earners. People, who undertake the journey not to enjoy the hospitality of Indian Rail service but to reach their destination as soon as possible.

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Likewise, the trains of the Ranchi Rajdhani, and like most other trains of the Rajdhani Express Service, make it their priority to get passengers to their destinations in the stipulated time frame.

In fact, far from being categorized as luxury trains, many trains of the Rajdhani Passenger Express, also don’t come with dining cars as well as both seating and sleeping arrangements on the same train – barring aside a few.

The three types of coaches of the Ranchi Rajdhani.

On every Rajdhani train, including the Ranchi Rajdhani, coaches are segregated into three categories: The Ac 1 tier, the Ac 2 tier and the Ac 3 tier. The Ac, being an acronym for Air Conditioning.

Traditionally, the Ac 1 tier has been considered to be for a privileged class and continues to do so. Made available to the public at a slightly higher price, the Ac 1 tier provides more privacy and personal space.

Passengers don’t get to share their personal space with a crowd of strangers they’ve never met. Trip over suitcases in the aisle at night, and impatiently wait in queue for fellow passengers to vacate the toilet. The Ac 1 tier is the first class section of all six of the Ranchi Rajdhani trains.

The Ac 2 tier is next in line but accommodates more passengers. There are 4 berths on one side of the aisle and double berths on the other. Most travellers opting for the Ac 2 tire, reserve their seats in advance, especially if they are a family or group of four looking forward to spending some quality travel time.

The Ac 2 tier is a little less expensive than the Ac 1 tier.

The Ac 3 tier of the Ranchi Rajdhani is for the general class and is the most crowded.

A single coach of the Ac 3 tier houses somewhere close to seventy-two people in an interior that has triple berths on one side of the aisle and double berths on the other. Curtains that once offered a screen from passersby are no longer available.

These coaches of the Ranchi Rajdhani are the most economical in terms of fare and are likewise desired by wayfarers on a budget. Especially by those, who don’t mind sharing their personal space for an overnight journey.

Inside, one can also find travellers who failed to find a berth in the Ac 1 and Ac 2 tier coaches.

Air-conditioned interior of the Ranchi Rajdhani.

One of the factors as to why most wayfarers prefer the Ranchi Rajdhani, besides its usual punctuality in departure and arrival, is for its air-conditioned cabins. Passengers who have travelled on a long-distance local train during the Indian summer months know the difference the Ranchi-Rajdhani makes in this department.

On stepping onboard, the first thing to greet passengers on a hot summer day is the pleasant coolness of an air-conditioned interior. The Ranchi Rajdhani doesn’t wait for the journey to begin to turn on the air conditioner, the service does so even before the train rolls into the station.

When operating on full power, the air conditioner of the Ranchi Rajdhani makes the enclosed interior of the coaches extremely chilled and it is not uncommon to find passengers onboard wrapping themselves with a blanket or bed sheet minutes after the train has embarked on its journey – although on occasions the air conditioning system onboard the trains have been known to stop working due to temporary technical malfunctions.

The Air Conditioning is a feature to be found in all three tiers of the trains.

All coaches of the Ranchi Rajdhani are Wi-Fi compatible and provide sockets for charging.

The drawback, however, is that passengers need a laptop with a good battery life to last the journey. There are only two wall sockets present in the triple berth compartment and none in the double berth compartment. Even for a mobile recharge, many have to wait in a queue to plug in.

Furthermore, though the trains are wifi compatible, it is not always possible to receive a signal. Especially when many regions the train travels through lack the required cellular infrastructure to keep passengers constantly connected.

In 2014, communication blackouts were a common occurrence on the routes these trains operated in.

Sleeping berths of the Ranchi Rajdhani Ac 3 tier.

The Ac 3 tire coaches of the Ranchi Rajdhani are divided into two sections with a narrow aisle in the centre. On one side are the triple berths and on the other, the double berths.

The double berths are good for couples or pairs travelling together. One can use the berth below as a seat or use it as a bed to stretch their legs out and gaze at the scenery with elbows resting on the ledge of a large window.

On the flip side, the double berths are narrower in width and the ones on top have no windows. In fact, none of the top berths do.

To climb into a berth, one needs to use the railing of the lower berths. Also if one is over six feet, one most certainly has to fold their legs in. The space is quite small.

The triple berths, on the other hand, are larger, more spacious and capable of accommodating large people quite easily. The drawback is that one has to share space with six others – including bawling kids and loud fellow passengers.

In the triple berth section, the middle berth is used by passengers as a cushy backrest when it is not being used as a bed. Once the adjustable berth is turned into a bed, it offers little headroom for passengers sitting below.

Every berth is provided with a clean bed sheet, a single blanket and a pillow.

Courteous and polite service is one of the hallmarks of the express.

The staff of the Ranchi Rajdhani can usually be identified by their black and white attires, and maroon shirts and striped sleeveless jackets. The attendants on board serve meals as per the prescribed timetable and generally care for the passengers.

Besides the attendants, the train service also has a housekeeping staff that frequently cleans up spills and messes left behind by careless passengers and a security crew comprising of railway police members. Passengers are at liberty to call upon their assistance, should they feel the need – and many even do.

At the end of the journey, it is common for the chief attendant of a coach to ask for a tip. Which is something of a tradition. The staff is always not lucky in this area – with some passengers obliging and others refusing.

The staff who work these trains are on most occasions, friendly and extremely helpful.

Due to the popularity of the train service, passengers reserve their berth, months before.

The Ranchi Rajdhani is one of those Indian trains that require wayfarers to book their passage months before their journey. This prudent practice isn’t just a common occurrence with the Ranchi Rajdhani.

It extends to virtually every Rajdhani train operating on any route. The reason behind this is the popularity of the train service and the limited number of trains operating on a single route at delayed intervals. The passenger list fills up very quickly and the express service does not tolerate last-minute walk-ins.

Neither does it take kindly to stowaways who try to negotiate their passage when apprehended. The ticket collector and the railway police on board ensure this. Such passengers are disembarked at the nearest station sometimes with a warning and sometimes with a fine.

For passengers making a booking, the confirmation receipt they receive is the ticket. This receipt contains all the necessary information regarding the journey. The name of the train service and its official designated number. The coach one is travelling in. The estimated time of departure and arrival. The necessary identification papers to bring along for verification, along with the departure and destination address.

This receipt has to be displayed in print or on a mobile device – along with the necessary identification papers, after boarding the train. Which for Indian citizens is their Adhaar card and in the case of visitors, their passports.

What the receipt does not mention, however, is the railway platform the train arrives at or departs from – for this, passengers have to inquire on their own at the railway station or hire a luggage bearer (coolie) to guide them there.

Thefts are not unheard of and passengers lock in their luggage with chains and locks – which spills into the narrow aisle.

During the night, the narrow aisle in the centre can be like an obstacle course with blankets, baggage and personal belongings scattered on the floor or chained to the berths. Passengers with extra baggage use up any available space.

Those who carry more dump it in the narrow aisle, in front of their seats or on their allotted bunks. Negotiating the aisle at night can be difficult. There are chances of tripping over suitcases, duffel bags, packed boxes, bedding rolls, and backpacks protruding out from beneath the berths. In the triple berth compartment, unlucky ones get to stare at a mountain of luggage right next to them.

Most passengers, however, prefer to chain their luggage to their berths to prevent thefts. Especially at night, and when the train makes its scheduled stops. Reports of thefts are frequent and there have been incidents of missing luggage.

Since the trains of the Indian railways do not provide additional security items such as chains and locks, passengers procure them at railway stations or bring them along from home. In the Ac 2 and Ac 3 tier, it is also not uncommon to come across luggage chained to berths for extra security.

The aisle of the Ac 3 tier is also a busy thoroughfare with passengers passing to and fro, and the railway staff carrying containers and other essentials. Only after lights-out, is it relatively empty.

Meals on board the Ranchi Rajdhani.

Meals provided on the Ranchi-Rajdhani are not prepared by the Indian Railways but are provided for by private caterers hired for the job on a contract basis. A pamphlet served alongside the meals comes with the name of the caterer.

Though the meals are included in the price of a ticket, the menu is limited and prefixed. However, passengers do have the option to choose between vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, and the culinary items do change from time to time.

Sometimes, the train also includes a special dish in its menu, which is charged separately and served between the appetizer and dinner.

Meals onboard are served an hour after departure. The first to be served is tea and light snacks. This is followed shortly afterwards, by soup, bread sticks and butter. Then comes dinner and finally desserts – which is usually Vanilla ice cream.

Tea with biscuits is served quite early in the morning. Which is followed by breakfast. For dinner and breakfast, one gets to choose between non-vegetarian and vegetarian items. The non-vegetarian menu includes chicken and eggs.

Passengers who find the meals too spicy or completely unpalatable usually bring along their own food – from home or restaurants. Soft drinks, wafers and peanuts are widely brought on board.

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Instances of bad food being served on the Ranchi-Rajdhani are quite rare. But in 2012, the Telegraph did publish an article citing food poisoning on board the Ranchi Rajdhani: 12440.

See Telegraph article: 30 ill after Rajdhani food >

Alcoholic beverages and cigarettes are prohibited within the main coaches. But passengers do enjoy a quick smoke standing in the bay area or at one of the stations the train stops by for a short interval.

Restrooms of the Ranchi-Rajdhani.

The Ranchi Rajdhani provides passengers with both Western-style commodes and the squat Indian variety. The restrooms are extremely small and virtually made out of solid metal. This includes the toilet seats.

Inspite of the Indian Railway management periodically cleaning the restrooms, they almost always appear dirty and uncleaned. One factor responsible for this is the accumulation of rust from water seepage. Which gives the interior of restrooms, a rather unhygienic appearance.

The other factor that makes them unhygienic are the passengers onboard – who make use of the restrooms without considering the discomfort of others. As the journey progresses, the restrooms become even filthier with many passengers often to be seen defecating outside or standing by the doorway.

Which makes the steel floors of the restrooms, wet and filthy. Furthermore, with the train moving at high speed and the compartments swaying with the rhythm, sometimes violently, using the restrooms requires a bit of the old balancing act.

The toilets can also be occupied by passengers for a long duration. Thus, some passengers prudently make use of the toilets after lights out or early in the morning.

For most wayfarers, using the restrooms is just a matter of a single night.

Train of choice for the middle and lower middle class.

In the 21st century, all three tiers of Ranchi Rajdhani continue to be the preferred choice of India’s large population of middle and lower-middle income earners. Onboard one mostly finds men and women, families and businessmen, corporate and government employees, students and occasional wayfarers from very humble and ordinary backgrounds.

People for whom an eighteen-hour long journey inside an air-conditioned cabin with meals being served on schedule far outweighs the discomfort of travelling in a local train. Especially for what the train service offers, in terms of services, hospitality, and safety in comparison. Or for that matter travelling in a luxurious environment at higher prices.

Despite occasional hikes in fares, most still find the tickets to be economical when compared to flights, or other modes of road transport that can be uncomfortable and more time-consuming.

The principal factor, however, that prompts wayfarers, hailing from this bracket of Indian society, is the train service’s record of getting people to their destinations in the shortest possible time, on Indian railway tracks.

Also see: The Indian Railways Website >