Indian Railways is upgrading Garib Rath trains across the country by replacing the old Integral Coach Factory (ICF) cars with Linke-Hofmann-Busch (LHB) coaches. The Amritsar-Saharsa Garib Rath Express recently had its first run with these new LHB coaches, but the experience was less than satisfactory for some passengers.
YouTuber Akshay Malhotra, who runs the channel ‘Journeys with AK’, documented the debut of the upgraded train in a vlog. The train, designated 12204, runs between Saharsa in Bihar and Amritsar in Punjab. It is India’s first Garib Rath service, launched in 2006 to offer affordable air-conditioned travel.
Malhotra began his journey from Amritsar Junction with plans to travel to New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) but decided to disembark at Dhandari Kalan in Ludhiana. Initially impressed by the new amenities in the LHB coach—including a redesigned seating layout, reading lights, CCTV surveillance, digital washroom signs, a public address system, and AC vents for berths—Malhotra’s enthusiasm soon turned to disappointment.
Jaise naam
Waisa kaam@AshwiniVaishnaw pic.twitter.com/d7xmedmDG5— Kapil (@kapsology) August 9, 2024
Around 2:30 am, about an hour and a half before departure, he discovered a water leak in the gangway. Inside the coach, he found seats covered in a white, grainy substance and a soiled bedsheet. The vlog also highlighted unclean washrooms, with one showing signs of a leaking ceiling.
The train made an unscheduled stop at Jalandhar Cantt. railway station due to a “special” train ahead that needed to be cleared for departure. Malhotra got off at Dhandari Kalan, and the train left 10 minutes late, as noted in his vlog.
