Trains have been a fascination for me ever since my childhood. Residing in a country that has the largest amount of railway lines in the world, India and residing in a city which has the largest railway station in that country, Kolkata, the interest has grown with age like good wine. From the age of the steam engines, to the modern day diesel and high powered electric locomotives, the mighty engine pulling a long line of bogies has always been a source of wonder for me.  Watching the railmen carrying their well worn railroad lanterns is a link to past traditions.
However, not all experiences of traveling by train in a developing country like India is pleasant. I remember when I was returning to Kolkata from Varanasi , I had to hold on to the glass window beside my berth with my foot the whole night lest it fall over and break, also the cold December air that would have come through would not be pleasant at all!
In India, the logistics of running trains over 63,327 kilometers of tracks with 6909 stations is no joke and the accident rate is surprisingly low considering the enormity of the task. But most trains do not run on time and the on board conditions need a lot of improving. The food in the stations is bad and often the toilets run out of water and the security provided on board is very little. With 18 million passengers this railroad is no small matter to handle and we Indians have taking to riding trains with minor discomfiture with a pinch of salt and manage to ride with fellow passengers with a minimum of fuss most of the time.

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