I took Duronto 22209 on Friday 4th Sept. 2022 seat H 23 from Mumbai Central to New Delhi. When I entered the train and saw my 1 AC compartment I was in shock. I paid Rs. 5, 200 for this dirty and stinking space.
The curtains were stinking and the seat sofa looked worn out. There were black dirt marks everywhere. The blankets smelled like it was not washed and reused. The covers had black stains even thou they told us it was laundered and my neighbour and me returned them back.
The bathrooms were so very dirty and stinking of pee from the floor. There were no tissues or napkins in the bathroom nor any sanitizing liquid. Horrible dirty sink with food particles in sink and around. After I asked the attendant to clean the bathroom they did not do anything about it.
The food was horrible as it was served cold. Instead of parathas I was given roti. When I asked the attendant why no parathas as I showed him it was written in menu he argued that it’s for veg and i then showed him it’s for both. The chicken curry and dal were room temperature cold. The attendant gave dal and forgot jeera rice I had to go look for him to serve me rice. By the time he got parathas the food was very cold and he said he cannot heat it as no microwave. The spoon and knife were made of bamboo and were given open on the tissue which was touched by many. No hygiene in covid times.
The train kept jolting every half hour twice so sleep was not restful and kept getting up due to the jolt.
The worst sly thing that the attendant did was he came to me and asked me for my reservation number. I told him the TC already checked us so why was he asking? He said I have to put it in a book that he was holding.
When he sat down to write I saw it was pink page book with ticks in all columns. I got suspicious and requested to see the book. He unwillingly gave me and it was review/survey book forms for all passengers to fill in. This attendant had filled it out for everyone with ticks on Satisfaction column for all passengers himself. He had an incorrect name on my seat page so i crossed it out and changed the whole survey with unacceptable stating why... No tissues or sanitation in dirty bathrooms. Blankets and covers dirty. Food cold and unhygienic. Soup had to be made by us from hot water and ready mix. Cutlery of bamboo paper all openly touched and unhygienic.
So in other words these attendees fill in the survey as all satisfactory by asking passengers for their reservation number, name and phone number and fill in the survey themselves and sign for them. This is fraud. Totally unacceptable.
I always take Tejas Rajdhani which is a very good train with almost the same price but never will I take Duronto 22209 to Delhi again ever in my life.
Please be aware and don’t make the mistake I made. Horrible train.