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Ed, I was just pulling your leg in my "imperialist" remark. Hope I did not offend you.
Incidentally, there is a standard notation used to identify each class on Indian Railways in specifying Rake/Coach positions (Rake is what is called a Consist in the US). The notation is:
Notice that it also specifies the locomotive type (WAP7) used, the loco shed it normally is assigned to (HWH - Howrah) and the car type (LHB)
The identity of the cars as shown here also appear on the side of each car and on the electronic car designators on the platform, and on your E-ticket for reserved accommodation. So by the time you get to the station you have very good idea where on the platform your car will be found when the train arrives.
So if my reservation is in AC 1st Class, Coach H1 Berth 12, I know to stand near the middle of the platform under the electronic sign that flashes H1. OTOH if like Ed, I was in AC2 say in Coach A3 Berth 28 I would stand a little bit towards the rear under the sign that reads A3.
There is absolutely no restriction (well except for platform tickets for those not holding a travel ticket at certain large stations) on getting to the platform in India. So you can pretty much go to any platform at any time. So by the time a train arrives, msot passengers are close to the location of their car, and the boarding can proceed through the usual bedlam, instead of people racing up and down the platform looking for their car. With 20 to 26 car long trains, without car positions being known ahead of time, trains would have to dwell at stations forever for eeryone to find their reserved accommodation.
Incidentally, the full information page for 2301 Howrah - New Delhi Rajdhani is at: https://indiarailinfo.com/train/-train-howrah-new-delhi-rajdhani-express-via-gaya-12301/1316/1/378
It is a time marked URL, so I don;t know how long it will continue to work. But if you get to the document reached through it, you will find that it is quite a treasure trove of information on that particular service. There is such a page on indianrailinfo.com for each train operated by Indian Railway, including international trains to Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Incidentally, there is a standard notation used to identify each class on Indian Railways in specifying Rake/Coach positions (Rake is what is called a Consist in the US). The notation is:
- A - AC 3 Tier
- B - AC 2 Tier
- C - AC Chair Car
- D - non-AC Chair Car
- DX - non-AC Ex Class?
- E - AC Executive Class Chair Car
- F non-AC First Class (more or less nonexistent)
- GS - General 2nd Class
- H - AC 1st Class
- L - Locomotive
- PC - Pantry Car
- S - non-AC Sleeper (3 Tier)
- EOG - End on Generator cum Brake - cum Luggage
- SLR - Second + Luggage + Brake
Notice that it also specifies the locomotive type (WAP7) used, the loco shed it normally is assigned to (HWH - Howrah) and the car type (LHB)
The identity of the cars as shown here also appear on the side of each car and on the electronic car designators on the platform, and on your E-ticket for reserved accommodation. So by the time you get to the station you have very good idea where on the platform your car will be found when the train arrives.
So if my reservation is in AC 1st Class, Coach H1 Berth 12, I know to stand near the middle of the platform under the electronic sign that flashes H1. OTOH if like Ed, I was in AC2 say in Coach A3 Berth 28 I would stand a little bit towards the rear under the sign that reads A3.
There is absolutely no restriction (well except for platform tickets for those not holding a travel ticket at certain large stations) on getting to the platform in India. So you can pretty much go to any platform at any time. So by the time a train arrives, msot passengers are close to the location of their car, and the boarding can proceed through the usual bedlam, instead of people racing up and down the platform looking for their car. With 20 to 26 car long trains, without car positions being known ahead of time, trains would have to dwell at stations forever for eeryone to find their reserved accommodation.
Incidentally, the full information page for 2301 Howrah - New Delhi Rajdhani is at: https://indiarailinfo.com/train/-train-howrah-new-delhi-rajdhani-express-via-gaya-12301/1316/1/378
It is a time marked URL, so I don;t know how long it will continue to work. But if you get to the document reached through it, you will find that it is quite a treasure trove of information on that particular service. There is such a page on indianrailinfo.com for each train operated by Indian Railway, including international trains to Bangladesh and Pakistan.
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