Varanasi Express not really a superfast train as claimed

Sir,

I travelled on the Varanasi Express on Apr. 13 to Mysuru. Despite being labelled as a superfast express and charging a premium fare of 75 rupees from Bengaluru, I found myself waiting for over an hour at the home signal near the Railway Goods Terminal.

This wait, coupled with the sweltering summer heat and swarms of mosquitoes, made for an unbearable experience. While the Government boasts about initiatives like the Vande Bharat Express, there seems to be little improvement in the efficiency of common trains. Even supposedly superfast trains are subjected to lengthy delays at home signals.

This situation starkly contrasts with the state of affairs twenty years ago, when automation was less prevalent. The introduction of numerous trains from Mysuru, all operating with significant inefficiencies, exacerbates the issue. Similar problems plague trains departing from KSR Bengaluru City Junction.

Given the availability of the Expressway and the provision of free travel for women in select KSRTC buses between Bengaluru and Mysuru, opting for train travel seems increasingly illogical. Only trains like the Vande Bharat and Shatabdi, which command high fares, manage to cover the distance in a relatively timely manner.

— Vasanth Ramu, Mysuru, 13.4.2024

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