To those who do travel by train

I received this forward from someone who I know. I can’t vouch whether the incidents are true. I would like to believe they are.

Incident 1
It happened few months back.

We were travelling. My family and I were waiting in the A/C waiting room at the Secunderabad Station. The bathroom was not clean and was smelling. Added to this discomfiture, the bathroom door was not closing tight. Neither was the shutter due to the faulty door closer. I complained to the attendant. I also sent a SMS "The bathroom in the A/C waiting room on Platform No 1 of Secunderbad Station is dirty and stinking. Please arrange cleaning. Also the door is not closing properly". After few minutes we left the waiting room as our train arrival was announced. Within a few minutes I received a text reply from the Railways, giving an ID No and saying that action will be taken. After few hours I received a message that the bathroom has been cleaned.

After ten days, I received another message; that the faulty door has been repaired and thanking me.

Incident 2
Recently on 24th October my wife and I were travelling by Hyderabad-Ajmeer Express on our Rajasthan trip. Next day morning, I noticed that there was no water in the bathroom and that the taps were all dry, whereas our journey would continue and we would be reaching our destination (Bhilwara near Ajmeer) after another 18 hours. I was worried that it is going to be a miserable time to travel without water. Water or No water, people will continue to use the bathrooms and the stink will become unbearable.

I complained to the Conductor. I also sent a SMS "Travelling in the A1 compartment of Hyderabad Ajmeer Express train No 12720. No water in the bathrooms. Please arrange. Also replace leaking valves; else problem repeats." Pat came the reply "Your reference ID is 1110250019. For status visitwww.scr.indianrailways.in or SMS as STATUS TO 8121281212. Thanks for registering complaint".

After about 20 minutes I received A message that water will be filled at the nearest Railway station having water filling facility. At Itarsi water was filled and we had no problems. After a week I received another message that the faulty valves have been replaced.

It was amazing.

I am thankful to the Railway authorities for introducing a system where one can complain from a running train and doubly grateful that they have acknowledged the complaint and attended to it. I collected this help line number from the Railway waiting room! Several times while travelling by train we are put to unexpected inconvenience. We react by cursing and criticizing. No other response. Of-course once we reach our destination we just forget. There is no use in cursing the darkness around you, do light a candle, however small it be. It gives an inspiration and ten more candles will be lit.

The Railway Number to which you can SMS is 8121281212.