3 cheers for 2AC - Hip Hip…Horray!!

Indian Railways and its associated catering arm is the world’s biggest utilities employer.  In a country of apparent chaos, its smartly uniformed staff keeps the immense network relocating millions of people around the clock in varying degrees of comfort.  I arrived in Gujarat well rested, courtesy of a 21 hour journey from Bhopal executed in great comfort.  Some time ago I elected to only travel long distances on the train in the 1AC and 2AC classes.  There are often only eight beds per train in 1AC (the premium class) and as these are generally monopolised by the government, I mostly spend my rail time in the 2AC compartment.

2AC is a spacious air conditioned class where the carriages are split into about 10 curtained bays of 4 with individually curtained bunks running along the “corridor”.  All bunks convert into capacious seating during the day.  In addition to blankets and pillows, on joining the train, each passenger is presented with a large brown paper bag containing crispy white sheets, and often a small towel.  Once furnished with their essentials, new passengers are politely identity checked normally by a suited, stately gentleman of later years against the computerised booking system and required to show their ticket but naturally flashing an e-ticket on your blackberry is “no problem ma’am”.

Timely meal orders (Veg or Non-Veg being the choice) are taken along the way by the sprightly young carriage attendants who then deliver the packaged meals piping hot from the Railway Catering facilities at key stations.  This is catering for the masses, it is not the best restaurant food but it is tasty enough and, at 40-80 rupees per meal, staggeringly convenient.  I am astounded by the ease and efficiency of it all, and my joy in observing that alone sometimes prevents me from popping onto the platform or hailing a waller to buy snacks and goodies along the way.

...what buying an e-ticket saves you from!

When not engaged in eating, sleeping or washing, the ubiquitous Chai Waller is always on hand to serve passengers a caffeine and sugar hit whilst they avail themselves of the extensive appliance charging facilities.  Any need to queue for the loo post-chai is eliminated by the electronic “lavatory engagement” indicators and on many trains toilet paper is even provided in the clean western toilets!

I do not believe that travelling 2AC is selling-out on the budget travel experience because when the air conditioning gets a little chilly, which it does, you can still step out to the sink area, fling open the train door and sit on the step or hang out whilst filling your boots with hot, dusty and rustic Asian train travel.

By Indian standards, 2AC is an expensive way to travel and that has another great advantage for the likes of me; the fellow passengers generally speak great English, are very interesting and well educated and also use laptops so do not feel the need to gather round mine in excitement!  It all bodes very well for a safe, jolly, middle-class outing and I salute here and now all of the helpful, funny, clever, charming, sweet and hardworking students, families and business people that I have had the pleasure to meet in 2AC!!