Vande Bharat, a train from Varanasi to Delhi, another name for luxury accompanied by wonderful service and housekeeping, is an experience worth having. The moment one gets a look of the train, one feels India is developing. Looking somewhat like a bullet train, running at a speed of 160 KMPH, the distance between Kanpur to Delhi is covered within 4.5 hours, taking a little lesser than what Shatabadi takes.
The staff greets you as they arrive at your seat to give you a water bottle. That is where it starts. It is followed by tea and biscuits. It was already night when I boarded it and it was time for dinner.
The dinner came in boxes with a bowl of rice, curd, Paranthas, a Paneer preparation and a Sweet Dish (unfortunately Son Papdi). The food was delicious and I heard many comparing it to call it as good as Pind Baluchi’s food. I cherished the food and the masala tea served thereafter.
I went to the washroom, to see the housekeeping staff coming out of the toilet, guaranteeing that it had been cleaned. As I entered, I felt I was not in a regular Indian AC train, where the cleaning isn’t that regular. Also, in Vande Bharat, one has an option to call the housekeeping staff and getting it cleaned as and when needed. With a few mud stains here and there on the commode, it was majorly clean. I was impressed but I had a little business inside, I mean I just had to pee and come out. What impressed me the most was that I didn’t have to touch the tap as it was automatic to sense my hand around and throw water. It meant least infection being communicated and least wastage of water.
Getting a seat with a female made it a little uncomfortable as the seats were not very broad and had a single armrest between the two seats that too not very high to keep one’s arm on. The footrest was aligned to its right, making the keeping of the left foot comfortable, but the right foot wasn’t that comfortable to keep. One could have kept one’s toe up there but not the whole foot. Another thing that made it uncomfortable was that the SEATS COULDN’T BE RECLINED. I am highlighting it because if you are tired and you plan to take a 4 hours nap on the way, forget it. The seats are straight and erect and it’s impossible to feel lousy or fall asleep.
Having said that, we were running a little late but as Delhi was around 50 Km far, the Driver increased the speed to help us reach almost on time, compensating for all the delay that had taken place on the way. The speed at which the train is running, the distance left and the name of the station can be checked on a digital screen which is visible to everyone sitting in the train.
All in All it was a good experience but if the seats could have been the way they are in Shatabdi Chair Car, the journey could have been a little more comfortable.
I would rate it 3 out of 5.