Kalinga-Utkal-the name evokes sense of pride in historians for the rich legacy bequeathed to us by the kings of that land but disgust in passengers travelling by the train of this name.One doesn't need the attestation of a gazetted officer to prove that 8478 Puri-Haridwar Kalinga-Utkal Express is indeed one of the worst train journeys ever undertaken by unfortunate passengers who were compelled by inevitable circumstances to take recourse to this train.
Inarguably,as my worthy fellow-bloggers have pointed out,that this train has a tendency to stop at each station,regardless of whether there are really bona-fide passengers waiting for this train at those stations or there are nobody at those stations except the ASM's and the Cable-hut operators!In fact,I seriously think whether this...
more... train has ever known or probably heard anything like SPEED.I can bet that even a sub-urban TRAM of Kolkata will outlast this train in a race were it allowed to compete.
Delays after already pre-designated delays-is what would best characterise this train.It can make the strongest among us cry,literally,towards the end of the never-ending journey by this train.The proof of this can be best presented by the fact that this train takes,hold,25 minutes from Okhla to reach the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station.Isn't that a world record in itself?Guiness Officials,are you looking?..........B B RATHA