Canadian Trains

  I think people can make the journey (including everyday travelling) with less pollution to the world by train. Canadian trains are good, especially in the travel areas. Seating arrangements are also good. The best part is their windows. They are wide and large. People can easily look outside and enjoy the view. The food is delicious, and there is a variety of options to choose from, including tea and coffee. Clean washrooms and well-behaved crews.

However, there are many areas for improvement. First, the fare price. It's too high. The lower it is, the more people will consider using the train regularly instead of their cars. The windows should be cleaned regularly. I couldn't take pictures on the way to Ottawa because of dirty windows. They didn't become dirty while running; they were dirty from the journey's beginning. I booked the seat, which should have a table in the middle. But the table wasn't there. The service woman said she also noticed that she searched for a table but couldn't find any.

These are not impossible improvement suggestions. Gradually, more routes can be added to connect residential and commercial areas.

Biography 211: Whistle from the train

 In my childhood, we lived near the Kamlapur Railway Station in Dhaka, Bangladesh. From our apartment, we always listened to the train whistle. We could see trains from our rooftop.

Later, when I started living in Saskatoon, I could hear the whistle of the train again. The rail line crossed the city.

Then, I moved to Ontario. Now, again, I could hear the train whistle. The train station is near our house.

My grandfather used to work on the Railway. I have never seen him. But when I search for a job, whenever I see a job position in the Railway, I always try to see if I could fit in. I just wanted to continue like my grandfather.

Now I think I have some connection with the train. Otherwise, why does the whistle always follow me?

Biography 172: Train journey to Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

In this picture, our professor sat with us and listened to the song.

The second-year study tour from our department (Geography & Environment, The University of Dhaka) was to Halua Ghat (Maymansing, Bangladesh).

Like all my travelling experiences, this was mixed with happy and little unhappy moments.

Our travelling started by train. We get on the train from the Kamalapur Railway Station. It was a 3rd class train compartment full of joy from a group of students from the University of Dhaka. I don't know how somebody's found a song like an anthem of our tour. They repeatedly keep singing that song. The main singer was our friend Emran. It was a local Bangla song. If I translate, it will be like, "Get married at 18 districts". I didn't like it, but the boys were full of fun with this song; they were singing in chorus.

During our train journey, one of our friends, Bony, became ill. She got cold. One of our professors travelling with us came from the second-class compartment to see her and give her medicine. You know coll pills have something that brings sleepiness. So, then Bony fell into a deep sleep. Some boys make fun of that too. One of them was Shameem. He put papers inside her mouth (It was open) and tried to fire it up. I wanted to stop him. You may call me boring, but I don't want any harmful activity.

When our professor came, Emraan and his gang again sang that song (Married Girls in 18 Districts). I don't know how our professor felt because he didn't say anything; he just kept smiling. Now I am smiling too by remembering those moments.

[Correction by Emran]

Emran: We were in the second-class compartment.

 

Biography 171: Bangladeshi trains

 In Bangladesh, we had 3 seating arrangements on our trains. 1st class, 2nd class and 3rd class. You will get small cabins for 4 to 6 people in the first class. There you will get AC, beds to sit in and sleep in, a small table, and a window. No hockers (people who sell items to the travellers) will come. You can order food from the train's food compartment/canteen, which they will bring to your cabin.

I didn't like this situation. It's true it will give you some private time. But I like to be offered tea, snacks, and items every few seconds by the hockers! I don't want to go somewhere to order from the limited food items. That's the choice of a foodie person.

Second-class seating arrangements mean you will have chairs/sofa the same and organized like a plane, except for the food and magazine trays.

The 3rd class sitting arrangments are long sofa, no partition from in 3 person's seat. This will be the best solution if you plan to book a whole compartment for a group tour. And of course, every second, someone will come and try to sell something like tea, toothbrush, medicine, etc.

টয় ট্রেন (Toy train)

[English version has given below]

এর নাম টয় ট্রেইন নাম হলেও আমার কাছে যথেস্ট বড় মনে হয়েছে এই রেলগাড়িকে।

শিলিগুড়ি থেকে দার্জিলিংয়ের পথে রওনা হবার পর রাস্তার পাশে চোখে পড়ল, রেল লাইনের মতোন লাইন। তবে রাস্তার এতো কাছে যে গাড়ি অন্য গাড়িকে সাইড দেবার সময় এই লাইনের উপর উঠে যাচ্ছে। হকাররাও দিব্বি এর উপর বসে পশার সাজিয়ে বিক্রি করছে। জীপের ড্রাইভার বলল, এতে কয়লা টানা হয়। এই লাইন ডার্জিলিং পর্যন্ত গিয়েছে। গাইড জানলো, এর নাম টয় ট্রেইন। এতে ৮ ঘন্টা লাগে শিলিগুড়ি থেকে দার্জিলিং যেতে।

মাঝে মাঝে ট্রেইনের লাইন রাস্তা ক্রস করেছে। তবে সেই ক্রসিংয়ের কোন গেইট নেই, কোন সিগনাল নেই। যেন ড্রাভারদের দায়িত্ব সব কিছু দেখে চলা (যে জোরে গাড়ি চালিয়েছে, কতটুকু দেখে সন্দেহ আছে).

এক সময় চোখে পড়ল ট্রেইন, ৮/১০ জনে ৪/৫ টি বগি নিয়ে যাচ্ছে। খুব মন চেয়েছিল এতে চড়তে, সুযোগ হয়নি।

দার্জিলিং যাবার পর মনে হলো এমন উঁচু-খাঁড়া পাহাড় বেয়ে ঐ ট্রেইন আসে কিভাবে? এখনও ধারনা হয়নি।

দার্জিলিংয়ের উপর এর স্টেশন। এটি বিশ্বের তৃতীয় উঁচুতে অবস্থিত রেল স্টেশন। আগে এক নম্বরে ছিল। 

দার্জিলিংয়ের রাস্তা এমনিতেও সরু, তার উপর পাশ দিয়ে এই ট্রেইন লাইন। দুটো একসাথে কিভাবে ম্যানেজ করে সেটা নিয়ে আর গবেষনার সুযোগ হয়নি।

রেল স্টেশনটা ছোট আর এর চারিদিকে কোন দেয়াল নেই। তাই পুরো স্টেশন, টিকেট কাউন্টার সবকিছুই রাস্তায় জীপ থেকে দেখতে পেয়েছিলাম।

[০৯ ই নভেম্বর, ২০০৭]

Though it's called "Toy Train", I think it’s big enough.

When we start from Shiliguri to Darjeeling, we saw lines like train line (Smaller than regular train line).  But it was very near or just beside the road, so whenever a jeep overtakes other vehicle, it goes on this line. Even road side sellers also sit on this line with their goods to sale. Our jeep driver said, this train used to carry coil to Darjeeling and our guide said, this is the Toy Train. It moves very slowly that it took 8 hours to reach at Darjeeling.

We saw on our journey that this train line crossed the road sometimes on its way. But there is no traffic signal or rail gate for security. Like all duties are on the driver's shoulder, they have to be careful to avoid accident with the train (But our jeep run very fast, I doubt about their concern about the train.). But couldn't get chance to see how they actually manage.

The rail station is very small and it has no boundary wall. So, from our jeep we could see the ticket counter and the whole station. This is the third station standing at high pick. The roads of the Darjeeling are very narrow, and it has line for Toy Train, we really couldn't understand how they manage when both vehicle moves at a time.

[November 09, 2007]

Train traffic system

Everybody has their dream project or planning. Especially when we stuck in traffic jam there many solution comes in our mind. If we made this road then it will be reduced, underground railway is the only solution etc.  We never thought our kids have their own plan too.

I bought this train set for him. After getting this toy, my son created his own way of traffic system, in the above picture. I like his plan for this city J

Started screaming, “I will go with the dirty train”.

Shafeen playing with his train, he was 3 years old

When my younger brother was a kid, my dad had transferred to Rangpur. My brother went to Kamalapur Railway station to see off my dad. Here, for the first time he (my brother) the train. He was really excited to travel in it. But nobody listened to the kid. He started crying. Our parent told him (my bro), he train is very dirty. We will take you to a clean and nice train at Shisu Park. My brother already experienced that. So he started screaming, “I will go with the dirty train”. And he continued screaming with his demand for many days.

Journey by train in a cabin

Shafeen in the cabin

In our country, I found, the most comfortable train journey is in AC Cabin. Book a Cabin then lock the door. Stay safe and you have enough space to enjoy and sleep well. I like the movement of train during running. It’s really very good for sleeping J . if you feel hungry can go to Cafeteria if the train and order food. They will send it to your cabin.

But you will miss one important thing, the hockers. Every now and then they will ask you tea, many kinds of food, news paper, small necessary things, shoe polish and many more.

It’s up to you, which one you will choose for your journey. I like both ;)

Journey by train

Shafeen (my son) sleeping at upper bath and Dia (my youngest sisters daughter) sleeping at lower bath. Both liked the cabin very much 

Shafeen, me and Dia

Shafeen and me waiting in the Kamalapur Railway Station

Last year we had a train journey. It was awesome except some poor experience, which I like to share with you all, so that, before making any plan to journey by train, you can aware of those problems and benefits.

We traveled from Dhaka to Chittagong. Our train was at 7:30 am. We reached at the train station at 7:00am. A mother who has a toddler she knows very well how difficult it is to get up and get ready in the morning. After reaching we saw our train still not arrived and after 15 minutes we get to know that the train will be late. So, it may start at 11am. We have seen many passengers left the station, probably will come later. But for me it was difficult to carry all bags to home and bring back again. So, we waited at the first class waiting room. It was really good and we really could take rest over there. At the first floor of the station, there is a restaurant. My sister went there and had a good breakfast. She recommends it.

At 11am we get on the train. We booked an AC cabin. Accommodation was great; it was really clean and nice. The AC worked great. We really spend very good time in it in the total journey. We drink tea and eat food from train’s food court several times. At the beginning the journey started very well. Here I must say who doesn’t have any hurry on timing and want to have a good journey then must book a cabin and had a good train journey.

We are very familiar with traffic jam in city, but for the first time we faced train jam. Before every station (where the train shouldn’t stop) our train stopped for several minutes, because it couldn’t find the free train line to run. Many times I thought I should get down and buy some lunch packet, because in train only snacks are available.

And when the train stops, the door became open. Many people get on the train. They started fill all blank sits (without ticket). Even after some moment we had to stop going to the cafeteria because all chairs were filled up with traveling people. With every compartment of AC cabin or chair, there is a sit for a security person (I guessed) that is also became filled. If you traveled train before, you must notice there are some free spaces between every compartment of the train, that place also covered with people.

Finally by stopping hundreds of time we reached at Chittagong at 9pm. By this time all free spaces of train were filled up with people. Our children were very much tired by staying too long time in one small space.

Shafeen and train

Shafeen playing with the red train

Shafeen watching another train while sitting inside a train

Shafeen watching his Tameem bro’s (my elder sister’s son) train

Shafeen loves train very much. He sat on a real train once, to go to Chittagong from Dhaka. We book a 3 sited AC cabin, and enjoyed the tour a lot. In the whole train he laid on the upper bath to enjoy the movement of the train.

Shafeen has some toys on train. But still he didn’t get the one he wants. So, he asked his uncle (paternal) to bring him a train. Let’s see when he gets that.