Part (2/2) "The Humsafar Mania" Continued from /blog/post/3496006
My Journey from Jharsuguda Road to Jharsuguda Jn
Our thinking capacity affects and things goes topsy turvy in the intense hot whether (45*C) and so does our trust and this time it was the Google Maps whom I had trusted blindly . It was 14:15 in my watch when the Humsafar Express left me on the Platform No. 1 at the Jharsuguda Road Station . There were two platforms here .While browsing Google Maps I had found a road from the Pf...
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2 side of the station to the main road where I could get the autos to the main station Jharsuguda Jn , where I had to catch my connecting train 07007 SC DBG SPL to BKSC . When I deboarded at PF 1 , some auto drivers gathered around me demanded Rs 100 for JSG , I ignored them and they still insisted me for Rs 50 in a share auto for a mere 2.5 Kms distance . I ignored all their suggestions and went to Pf 2 for the exit as I had seen in the Google Maps and for a shock I found that there was no exit on the Pf 2 side and rather it had a boundary wall . I was just stunned . To my surprise there wasn’t a single person on this Platform. The Humsafar Exp soon departed and the station became empty . There was utmost silence and no autos were then present . It was around 14:30 then . I checked Live station JSGR on NTES then and they displayed “No Trains at Jharsuguda Road JSGR in next 2 Hrs” . I was all alone on the pf no. 2 , the scene was a bit scary too . I then realized that I had made a mistake by not going by the autos. Then suddenly I checked Live station Jharsuguda Jn and found that the train no. 18311 Sambalpur Varanasi Exp is delayed by 40 mins and has crossed Sarla Road station then (40 kms away from Jharsuguda Jn) . 40 kms meant the train would be here in around 30-40 mins , although it didn’t had stoppage here at JSGR but I could take a risk . As the train didn’t had a stop here I couldn’t have the tickets too . I waited for 35 mins , the time was 15:05 , I saw a train hauled by TATA WAM 4 loco coming on the main line and the signal was red . The train eventually stopped on the main line , I crossed the two rly tracks and boarded the general coach , a man on the train helped me to pick my heavy luggage inside the train. After a stop of 10 mins the whistle blewed and the train moved . Within 10 mins I reached Jharsuguda station . I took a great sigh of relief , although this was a bit tensed journey , but still I enjoyed it , also this journey was free of cost .
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At Jharsuguda Jn
I had a good lunch at the Yog Sheela Restaurant , near the station . It was a very nice restaurant , they served me a fine Veg Thali at Rs 160 . This time I won’t criticise Google Maps cuz it was because of them I had got here . I had a great railfanning session at the station , saw many trains in the meantime . Nearly spending 3 hrs at the station , My train 07007 arrived on Pf 2 hauled by the green goblin WAG 9 from the AJNI shed at 19:15 , a slight delay of 1.5 hrs . The train departed at 19:20 and gave me a superfast like run all the way till Bokaro Steel City . It didn’t let me felt that I’m travelling in a special train . I finally reached Bokaro at 02:48 AM . This was one of my most memorable journeys of all time . The whole journey from Bhopal to Bokaro Steel City was completed in 33 hrs .
Pls do give the ratings to this trip report and the pics attached .
#NiketKaran

The Humsafar mania . . .
Well it was the summer of 2018 , one of those May days when the sun shines hot and wind blew warm . I was in Bhopal for my end sem exams . I was planning to visit Bokaro Steel City . As there were no direct trains between these two places , So after a brief discussion from the IRI members I had made up my mind to travel in a break journey in Jabalpur , Bhopal to Jabalpur in Amarkantak Exp and Shaktipunj Exp to Barkakana Jn and a 80 Kms bus journey till Bokaro Steel City .
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The Indore Puri Humsafar Exp
Suddenly while browsing through IRI , I came across the Introduction of the Humsafar train . I knew it would surely go via Odhisa or Jharkhand so I didn’t booked the Shaktipunj ticket . Soon after the route of Humsafar was decided that it would go via Bhopal – Nagpur – Bilaspur – Jharsuguda – Bhubhaneswar – Puri . The train was finally inaugurated on 12th May . On 14th May its booking for the regular journeys started . Within minutes I had booked my ticket from Bhopal Jn to Jharsuguda Jn for DOJ 29th May 2018 on the lowest possible fare of Rs 1460 . The further Journey was not planned then .
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Observations for the First Regular Run and Planning for further journey
The train was ready for its first regular run on 22nd May , but two things strange happened that day . The train didn’t touch Jharsuguda Jn rather it bypassed via Jharsuguda Road . The IRCTC was booking tickets for Jharsuguda Jn . I had tweet this issue to @Railminindia on twitter and they apologised me for their mistake and they made the correction on their website too . And despite having a good slack time it was delayed by 2hrs 40 mins at Jharsuguda Road station . It was a very big challenge for me to plan the further journey . So after a various list of choices , I booked my ticket in 07007 Secunderabad – Darbhanga Spl from Jharsuguda Jn to Bokaro Steel City . This included 6hrs buffer timings and a change of station too .
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29th May 2018 , The Journey Day
I was very excited for my ride in this new Humsafar Exp . It was my 3rd Humsafar Exp ride . The train was at 17:45 at Bhopal Jn . I was there at station at 16:30 . The train arrived right time all thanks to the slack timings . BRC WAP 5 #30092 was doing the honours for the journey till Bilaspur Jn . Brand new coaches with extremely clean coaches with all Humsafar amenities were present there . Pls see the pics of the shining coaches . I had a got Side Lower berth , the seat of my choice B5 23 . Luckily nobody requested me for the exchange of seats . The WAP 5 was in insane mood throughout the journey . By the time it reached Bilaspur it was delayed by 2 hrs . The WAP 5 changed to WDP 4D at Bilaspur Jn . The journey after Bilaspur was a pretty slower than before , an overtake happen too at Champa by Mumbai Howrah Duronto Exp The train finally reached Jharsuguda Road at 14:20 a delay of nearly 3 hrs . . .
This was a very pleasant and comfortable Journey till here . To know what happened next , the problems at Jharsuguda Jn , pls stay tuned in this blog post . . . .
Next Part /blog/post/3529678
Thank You
#NiketKaran