DELHI TO MORADABAD: THE ROUTE NOT TAKEN
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On the evening of June twenty seventh, I was supposed to return back home from Delhi. But just prior to the departure I was busy in a meeting with no clear cut ending time. At last got free at around 17:30 hrs and by the time I could get ready, it was 6.Fled to the road hiring an overpriced auto to ANVT with an aim to catch 12558 Sapt Kranti Express which was rescheduled for 20:00. With courtesy of the world famous traffic jam of...
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Akshardham, I could only make it to the station by 07:45. The train was right there, I had enough time to catch it but I didn’t. I’m not sure what inspired my course of actions post this point but here’s what I did.
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22406 ANVT-BGP G Rath showed AVLBL 3 in CC. Booked it till CNB.
12327 Upasana Exp showed RLWL46 for LKO-MB for the next day. With very little hope booked it too at 19:55 hrs, just a few moments before the PRS could shut down.
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Boarded the GR which departed dot at 21:30 hrs, 15 minutes ahead of ANVT REWA Express. 15 minutes later it was halted at SBB and was overtook by Prayagraj Exp. Later it had another unscheduled halt at GZB but this was the end of it. Moving ahead from here, it blasted like a beauty. First things first, it overtook Prayagraj back at flat MPS. Next target was ANVT-REWA which had departed from the same terminal, a quarter of an hour ahead and it happened right before ALJN. Lal Quila too was massacred somewhere. Awadh express stood silently at TDL as we arrived, halted and departed. And the last I remember is Gorakhdham being overtook before CNB. Noticeable point: No TTE ever came, no tickets were checked. No excess fare was collected from anyone.
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As the people were trying to figure out how to be the most comfortable, or say the least uncomfortable in the CC seats, Kanpur arrived. It was 03:15 AM. Got down and was actively guided by the coolies for the UR ticket counter. Got the ticket and not with much delay Gorakhdham arrived. After the hour long journey, here I was in LKO at 05:00.
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Capturing LJN KGM Premium- Check.
Making my way to the AC retiring room- check.
Tasting the horrible breakfast LKO had to offer –ch.. *puke*.. check.
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What followed was a 5 hour active RF on LKO-MB route on board Upasana Express as my ticket underwent a miraculous confirmation following which I landed in my hometown at around 12:30, after a journey of around 15 hours and 830 kms between two towns, a ton of miles away. And for people at home, well my NDLS-LKU SPL had been delayed by an hour. ;)