India is a country that covers a vast area of land and there are various modes of transport available to us, to get from one place to another such as cars, auto rickshaw, bicycle, bus, train etc.
These modes of transport travel by land can be differentiated into two wheeler, three wheeler and four wheelers, private and public transport, each has its own uses and it depends upon individual preferences.
I have travelled by almost all the different types of transport available, the question is why do we travel by train?
Here are some reasons why we travel by train for better or for worse:
2. Cost: Railway tickets are cheaper than other means of transport in relation to the distance covered, the never ending rise in fuel prices makes it difficult to travel by road without burning a hole in your pocket.
3. Unexpected delays: Train delays are a major problem, if you miss the train, when the next train comes, it is a challenge to either enter or leave the train depending which side of the fence you are on at that point of time.
4. Overcrowding: It is unavoidable, everyone wants to get to their destination at the same time, there are so many people and so little space, getting in and out of the train become a task by itself.
5. Sales pitch: One cannot escape the presence of traveling salesmen who will try everything possible to get their products sold, including unrealistic discounts, products that look like the original and even money back guarantees.
6. Travel companions: you will find couples in the men's compartment which creates all kinds of problems in a compartment that is overcrowded with no room to breathe.
7. No space: Those who cannot travel in the train, can be found sitting on top of the train or holding on to the door of the train, some do it out of desperation and others for fun, either way it is dangerous as they can die which causes the train to stop and leads to further delays.
8. Luggage: Overcrowded trains do not stop some people from bringing along their luggage with them, there is no place for people and we have to make way for luggage in a compartment that is crammed to the maximum capacity.
9. Crime: Where there are crowds, there is theft, pickpocketing is the most common way to lose your belongings, I have seen people stealing mobiles from those standing near the doors of a moving train and there is nothing you can do about it.
10. No way out: There are people who will stand at the entrance of the compartment on purpose and will not let you enter or leave the train on purpose, this means that you are either stuck on the train or catch the next train.
To conclude, I personally feel that travel by train is something where the costs outweigh the benefits and train travel is not for everyone.
