The First Class Snob:

What is it with first class passengers in local trains, why do they consider themselves to be superior from other passengers?.....passengers from second class compartments. I’ve been travelling in trains for a long time now and during these journeys I’ve often come across several passengers who classify as first class snobs.

First Class Snob’s (FCS) are those who are most irked when a passenger from second class compartment gets into a first class coach. At such instances, FCS’s are the first ones to protest their entry. They are quick to shout “Yeh first class hai” (this is first class), literally scaring the person that he almost jumps out in fright.

You might wonder how these FCS’s manage to identify second class passengers. Well, it’s relatively easy! These second class passengers are those who are mostly illiterates, belonging to the economically weaker sections of society. They are easily identified by their attire. These gullible second class passengers mostly jump into a first class compartment without realizing that they are getting into one. Some such passengers are not regular commuters hence they are unaware about this great divide. They just notice the comparatively empty compartments and get in. On the other hand, a well dressed and well educated second class passenger manages to get in without any issues as they cannot be differentiated from first class passengers.

What is pathetic is the reason why these FCS’s get so worked up when a lowly second class passenger gate-crashes into their elite circle. It is not that these FCS’s are genuinely concerned about the people who get into a first class compartment nor do they have their well being in mind based on the fact that these poor souls might end up paying a hefty fine or will be cooling their heels behind bars if they are caught travelling without proper tickets. Quite the opposite, FCS’s simply hate the fact that a second class passenger is travelling in a first class compartment while holding a second class ticket.

People falling in the FCS category are not necessarily the white collared elite businessmen type. It can be anyone. Once while travelling from Dadar to Borivili, I came across this courier guy who was apparently provided a first class pass by his company to enable him to travel with his heavy load with relative ease. This courier guy also turned out to be an FCS when an unsuspecting second class passenger boarded the compartment from Bandra. The courier FCS was probably digging into his large bag at that moment as he didn’t notice the fellow get in. It was only after the train left the station that he noticed the second class passenger who was by then happily seated at a window seat. The courier FCS was immediately upon him, asking him whether he had a first class pass or ticket. He started admonishing him for getting into a first class coach. As is the case, the unsuspecting second class passenger was from the economically weaker section. What was amusing was that the courier FCS was also from the economically weaker section and was as shabbily dressed as that unsuspecting second class passenger. Yet the courier FCS tried to sound genuinely concerned, advising him what would happen if he were to be caught by a ticket checker.

What I felt was that the courier FCS was just trying to inform all other passengers that he was a valid first class pass holder. It was evident that he took pride in having a valid first class pass and he wanted to flaunt it. In fact, if he had his way he would’ve announced it at railway stations and shouted about it from rooftops. An opportunity to admonish the second class passenger allowed him to do just that.

Some other incidents involving FCS’s…….

The Fake FCS

Once while travelling from Kanjurmarg to Dombivili, there was this decently dressed but drunk passenger hanging at the door when I got in. I realized he was drunk when he opened his mouth to speak. When the train halted at Nahur station a sea of people rushed in, almost dislodging this guy from his perch. That was when he opened his mouth in protest. With slurred speech he shouted “Arrey sab log kahaan ghussay jaa rahay hain? Yeh first class hai” (why is everyone rushing in, this is a first class compartment). People getting in were too engrossed in their attempt to get in instead of paying any attention to his protest. When the train left the station this guy was still complaining “Pandra-sau rupaye kharch karkay hum pass kharid-tay hain aur sab second class walay ghuss jaatay hain” (we pay Rs.1500/- to buy a first class pass and all second class passengers get in). Surprisingly, a ticket checker had also boarded the train from Nahur and he started checking everybody’s tickets. When he came to this guy who was complaining, much to our surprise, he was holding a second class pass, so much for his tall claims. I realized he was a fake FCS. He was de-trained at the next stop. I think he must’ve been an out of work actor who was just polishing his skills and I guess the reason for his being out of work was ‘Overacting’ which also gave him away.

FCS Meets his Match

FCS’s are not always successful at doing what they do, evicting second class passengers from a first class compartment. Once while travelling from Kurla to Dombivili, a labourer type fellow boarded the train from Vikhroli station. This guy was drunk to the brim, was literally reeking of liquor and was badly injured too. This guy had one of his hands in a sling and a bandage wrapped around his head. Upon getting into the compartment, he pushed his way through the crowd to the middle of the compartment and parked himself. An FCS was quick to enlighten this guy that he had boarded a first class coach and that he should get down and board a second class compartment or the handicap compartment, considering his condition. In his drunken stupor this guy was quick to retort “mujhay itnaa chot lagaa hain yeh rakh kay mai kya handicap compartment dhoondta phiroon?” (I am badly injured and yet you expect me to seek out the handicap compartment in this condition?) I guess that would have taught that FCS to keep his mouth shut the next time he encountered a second class passenger boarding a first class compartment.

What is the difference between a first and second class compartment? Technically speaking, I don’t see much of a difference. Both coaches are equally crowded. In fact, I sometimes feel that the second class compartment is comparatively vacant than a first class compartment. But physically speaking, a second class compartment has wooden seats whereas the first class compartment sports cushioned seats.

If you ask whether there is a difference between passengers from first and second class compartments then the answer is yes. There certainly is a huge difference. The first class compartment is filled largely with snobs whereas a second class passenger is more humane. In a second class compartment, a passenger who boards the train from VT / Karjat / Badlapur would by default vacate his seat, mid-way through the journey, voluntarily for the next passenger whereas in a first class compartment, a seated passenger only vacates his seat when the train touches the station he plans to get down at. In a second class compartment there is a fourth seat available where you are not very comfortable but at least you get to rest your weary legs. In a first class compartment, a single row of seat is shared by three passengers exclusively.

Other than these, there are no differences between the two coaches. The only difference till now was the seats, wooden and cushioned. This difference is also going to be eliminated soon. In a recent development, railways have decided to enhance second class compartments by furnishing it with cushioned seats. With this most visible difference out of the way….

• ·       Will the FCS object to a second class passenger getting into a first class compartment?

OR

• ·         Will he ask the railway authorities to level the difference in tariffs for tickets and pass with that of a second class compartment?

 OR

• ·         Will he opt to travel in a second class compartment?

Ciao!

On Travels by Train - Part 1

On Travels by Train:

Part -1 : Passenger 4-47 (Four Passengers & Forty Seven Pieces of Luggage)

I was travelling from Chennai to Mumbai. I’d been to Chennai for a week and was now returning back. My trip to Chennai was a whirlwind trip and was planned at the last minute. But last minute trips never receive the blessings of the Indian Railways, as they expect you to plan your travel 2 – 3 months in advance.

Planning a trip is fine, as long as you are planning a vacation or you are planning to attend a wedding ceremony / religious function or plan to go on a pilgrimage. But how can you anticipate that after a couple of months a family member is going to fall sick or there is going to be a death in the family or something unexpected is going to come up? When something like this does come up, you find yourself in a quandary. For want of tickets I found myself in the same situation when I had to urgently travel to Chennai. After running around to railway booking offices, online booking sites and even approaching agents, I was still without a ticket. Then my brother suggested that I travel to Chennai by bus and that there were several private bus operators who ran services between Mumbai – Bangalore – Chennai. I was quick to heed his suggestion and soon enough I had a ticket in my hand. I was on my way to Chennai by bus the very next day.

The travel was no doubt very comfortable what with air-conditioned sleeper coaches and all. The only drawback being that you had to adjust yourself and your body clock according to the bus operator’s schedule. They decide where the bus halts and you have to ensure that you relieve yourself where they had halted. This was something that was not quite acceptable to me. Hence, while coming back to Mumbai from Chennai, I didn’t want to travel by bus.

Luckily for me, I got a ticket with a waiting list status 1 in Mumbai mail. I was sure that the waiting list would definitely change to ‘confirmed’ by the date of my travel, which was a week after I booked my ticket. The waitlist – 1 status changed to RAC-2 on the very next day of my booking the ticket. That was enough to boost my confidence that the ticket would be confirmed. On the morning of my date of travel when I checked the status, it was still showing as RAC-2. The train was scheduled to depart at 2250hrs and there was still time for the ticket to get confirmed. By the time I reached the station, the status was RAC-1. Now I was sure that my ticket would get confirmed after I boarded the train. Since I already had sitting space, I boarded the train and went inside.

What I saw flummoxed me. I sure did have a sitting space but I didn’t think that I’d get a place to sleep, even with confirmed tickets or even get space enough to keep my luggage for that matter. There was no chance of me catching forty winks during the journey. Forget catching forty winks, I was sure I’d have to keep my luggage on my lap throughout the journey.....28 long hours.

The reason being, my co-passengers, four of a family were travelling with around more than forty pieces of luggage. This luggage included travel bags of all size and shapes, several small shopping bags, cardboard cartons and to top it all a 125 litre plastic drum. I later learnt that the plastic drums were filled with Laddoos. To accommodate their luggage, they had used up all the luggage space available. The space under seat numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. While seat numbers 2, 3 and 6 were seats that had been officially allotted to them (one seat was in another part of the compartment) they had also used up the luggage space of seat numbers 1, 4 and 5. In addition, they had luggage stored on the berths. Not only that even the rack provided to store water bottles were not left vacant. Each of the racks, six in all was stored with bottles of water.

The train was soon in motion and by 23:30, my seat was confirmed. Much to my horror, the seat allotted to me was seat number one, which happened to be a window seat. A window seat is usually cherished by young and old alike, for what reason I don’t know, but somehow it gives a sense of achievement and satisfaction. I gave up all hopes of occupying that seat because reaching that seat was next to impossible. Impossible because several shopping bags, a huge carton and the 125 lt drum stood in my way.

Seat number six which was officially theirs was a side upper seat which they very graciously offered to switch with me. Very kindly they offered me seat number six in exchange for seat number one allotted to me. In other circumstances, I’d have gladly accepted their request and swapped seats with them considering the fact that they were senior citizens and it would hugely inconvenience them to climb up seat number six which was side upper. But considering the prevailing scenario i.e., I did not have any place to park my luggage, it was certain that I’d have to place my luggage on my berth itself. Most people who have travelled by long distance trains would agree that side berths are shorter than other berths comparatively. If I’d tried to accommodate my luggage and myself both onto this side upper berth, I would not have been able to sleep. In fact, I would be twisting and turning the whole night trying to accommodate myself and my luggage. On other journeys when I had the misfortune of being allotted a side berth I had to fold my legs while sleeping but with the luggage there was no chance that even folding my legs would do the trick.

Hence I was quick to reject this exchange offer. But still I didn’t get my lower berth number one, as they asked me to occupy their upper berth number two. Since it was already 0000hrs., I didn’t waste any time in shifting my luggage onto berth number two and getting onto it myself. It was still a tough task as my bag was fat enough and it occupied three quarters of one corner of my berth, leaving me little space to squeeze my weary legs one on top of the other. It was as if my legs had been bound together and chained to a pole. I somehow managed to fall asleep praying for the night to pass by quickly.

What I don’t understand is how could anyone carry that much luggage around with them? Doesn’t it give them the jitters just looking at the luggage? Doesn’t it inconvenience them? Don’t they even think about the inconvenience it might cause to other passengers? I surely do. I consider carrying even one piece of luggage with me as an inconvenience. If I had my way, I’d surely prefer to travel hands free. As a matter of fact I would suggest that the railways follow the same rule as airlines. Only allowing hand baggage inside the compartment and all other luggage should be shoved into the luggage van. But then again, it is not possible as that would require more manpower. Manpower to sort out and mark each piece of luggage, load and unload them and a proper system to streamline the process. This I guess is a tall order and will take a long time to be actually implemented. But then, it would be wrong on my part to talk about implementation when actually it is not even a thought in the minds of the authorities yet.

Therefore I think we’ll have to continue travelling like this and tolerate the intolerable foibles of our fellow passengers. Ciao!