Explorer-in-residence Kuntil Baruwa shares his first-hand account, in and around the Gatiman Express – India’s Fastest Train.

EPILOUGE

I joined the travel trade on November 11, 2005 in operations. All throughout till April 29, 2009 - my desktop had a folder named “standard replies” – word docs with replies for what I called “standard” queries from Foreign Tour Operators (FTOs). I didn’t bat an eyelid whenever there was a “standard” query that matched any of the replies in the “standard” folder – cut copy from the word doc, paste it into outlook, add a few lines – and click send. Almost auto reply. It was idiot proof. One such “standard” reply was related to queries on Indian Railways such as – can my client book a window seat?, can my clients book all the 4 seats in the first class coupe and have it all for themselves?, can my client get a seat facing towards the direction of the moving train? etc etc. Do you still get them? Anyway, the “standard” reply on Indian Railways began something like this – “Many Thanks for your email. As you know Indian Railways is more of a service to the general public of India…we have no control over da da da… we can only put in a request…ra… ra… ra… (add a few lines as per the query before hitting the send button)”. My reply to any query on Indian railways was always apologetic…meant, very politely, to set the expectations right – Indian Railways is only about getting from point A to B. Hopefully on time. Expect nothing more. Nothing less.

THE GATIMAN EXPRESS - REACH AGRA EARLY, START LATE FROM DELHI THAT SHOULD BE YOUR SALES PITCH

In 2016 you still can’t guarantee a window seat to your clients on Indian trains, nor can your clients book all the 4 seats in the first class coupe and have it all for themselves or book a seat facing towards the direction of the moving train. But they can definitely reach Agra faster and yet start late from Delhi.

No need to make that crazy early start anymore to catch the Bhopal Shatabdi which departs at 6 in the morning from New Delhi Railway Station and reaches Agra at 08:00 hrs (120 minutes). Thanks to the Gatiman Express – India’s fastest train - which began its nonstop run from Delhi to Agra and back starting April 5, 2016. It departs from the Hazrat Nizamuddin Station 6 days a week at 08:10 hrs in the morning and reaches Agra at 09:50 hrs (100 minutes). The Gatiman Express doesn’t run on Fridays. This is brilliant and idiot proof because its negates the mother of all goof ups in the travel trade – sending clients on a day trip to Agra on a Friday when the Taj Mahal is closed. I have seen that happen and we will talk about the day trip from Delhi to Agra and back using the Gatiman Express later in the report. We have a nice video too.

Anyway the crazy early start for the Bhopal Shatabdi though had its own WAHS and BLAHS back then for people like me doing transfers (along with everything else that was required in an operations role) -

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