Aug 15, 2005 08:25 AM
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(Updated Aug 15, 2005 08:25 AM)
The Dehradun Shatabdi express can be termed as one of the slowest Shatabdi express trains being run on the IR Network. The train covers a distance of 320 Kms in 5 hours 45 mins with stoppages at Meerut City, Muzzaffarnagar,Saharanpur, Roorkee and Haridwar. offcourse when we compare this Shatabdi express to the LKO Shatabdi in terms of rolling stock it would take a back seat but when compared to other normal Shatabdi trains its not that bad.
The dilemma this train faces today is that the shortest route to DDN or Dehradun as we commonly call is unfortunately not one of the trunk routes on IR. Its hauled by a WDM-3a diesal locomotive of the TKD Shed which is a 3100HP machine and can handle a puny load of this Shatabdi really well.
DDN Shatabdi and the ASR Swarna Shatabdi share a very cute chemistry. For those who have travelled by this train know it well that both these trains share the same departure platform with the DDN buddy standing at the extreme left side and the ASR(Amritsar) buddy standing at the right hand side at NDLS (NewDelhi).
NR railway rotates its Shatabdi rakes among various shatabdi services it runs barring the Amritsar Swarna Shatabdi and the Lucknow Swarna Shatabdi who have dedicated rakes. So the question of some one getting a bad outdated coach is sheer luck as the coaches are often periodically over hauled . I dont say that the rakes are not old but then they are not worthless too.
The run of the train from Delhi to Meerut is impressive thanks to the double track and electronic signalling or MACL signalling as we call it in railway terminology.
Its only after Meerut all the way uptill Saharanpur that the train takes a nice beating thanks to single track and outdated signal system and offcourse then inspite of being a non trunk route u have freight traffic which needs to be cleared u have speed limits in place due to bad track and stuff.
For DDN bound people Saharanpur is a bottleneck too as the engine gets reversed and u waste 20 odd mins there and they seem to like jan Shatabdi alot but this stop has been done in order to boost occupancy on the train compared to jan shatabdi which just has 2 ac coaches and all of them get filled up pretty quick.
The track between Haridwar and Dehradun is a bottle neck too as it passes through reserve forest hence limiting the speed of the train to 50KMPH. But somehow I seem to enjoy that part as the train meanders like a lazy river among the lush green forests and without much disturbing the landscape u quietly dock into the puny station of Dehra.
The meals are average but again as I said nothing comes free u need good service u need to tip the pantry staff well in adv and u will be served a lavish meal atleast thats what I do.
