I travelled from Kalyan (Mumbai) to Lucknow by Pushpak express. Even though I booked on the 60th day before journey, I only got RAC tickets for the 2nd AC coach. I made another booking for sleeper class and that got confirmed immediately. The 2nd AC never moved even one number even 1 day prior to the journey so I cancelled it and travelled sleeper class.
The train arrived at Kalyan on time. The coach was very dirty right from the beginning of the journey and the toiles were terrible. Even the wash basin had some gutkha spit and beedi. All through the day beggars, urchins, hijras and salespeople kept comnig and harassing us (I dont know if this scene is similar on all other trains in the sleeper class)
The coach was full of Bihari (I do not mean it in any derogatory way) youths - there were at least 3 guys on each berth. I was hoping the situation would improve when night came but they all stayed!!! They either slept on the same berth or some slept on the floor.We spoke to the TTE and asked him to drive away all those who were not reserved but he obviously had some ’setting’ and he did not do anything. Finally, we took turns sitting up all night to watch our luggage as almost everyone on the train looked like the type who run away with luggage. Worse, when my dad was sitting in his turn to watch, one guy approached him and asked him if he could sleep on his berth while he was staying up. My dad was obviously wild.
The worst part: We had ordered dinner on the train. Luckily, my wife went to the wash basin at the time the food was about to arrive and she saw the attendant set up the individual plates right there - outside the toilet. The other food items were closed in aluminium foil but they were giving something like buttermilk (I obviously did not drink to find out what it was) which was open.
I can never forget this experience. I have vowed that I will never travel on this train again.