India

[FWLR]

In regards to safety Andrew I think British people value human life more than in countries with mass population where there are 100 or more people trying to beat you to or for something.

Not if your trying to get too a Debenhams New Year sale your’e not Tom….

[ge_rik]

One thing I didn't notice a lot of in Riks photo's was the trains festooned in people that one so often associates with Indian railways. I guess it may be more of a suburban feature where the traffic density is high. Did you see much of it around the major cities Rik?

Andrew

Hi Andrew
Didn't see it at all on any of the journeys we took. The trains were enormously long and the majority of the coaches were 'unreserved' and these were generally very crowded. Often saw people sitting in open doorways, but that was probably because those coaches had no air conditioning.

Here's our train pulling into Kolkata, fore and aft just to give you a sense of scale.

DSCI1298.JPG (124.61 KiB) Viewed 2516 times

DSCI1293.JPG (128.74 KiB) Viewed 2516 times

Rik

[Soar Valley Light]

Thanks Rik,

Those are looooooooooooooooooooooong trains!

I expect that rapid and recent spread of overhead equipment has put an end to the practise, either through common sense or Darwinian selection!

The continuing and all encompasing conversion to broad gauge appears to be altering the character of the Indian railway system out of all recognition. This, in no small measure, seems due to the modernisation that sweeps along with it. Great to see the country developing but sad to see the history being swept away and even sadder to see the effect it's having ecologically.

You can always rely on India to be a paradox!

Thanks for the pics Rik.

Andrew