India Slowest Train – The Historic Howrah-Amritsar Mail and Its 37 Hour Journey

India Slowest Train – The Historic Howrah-Amritsar Mail – While the railway systems of India is one of the world’s largest, being spread for millions of people every day. There are few trains that are known for their speed, new age facilities and proper time control etc, however there are many trains that do matter for the Indian railways contextually and emotionally. Of such trains to be specific the Howrah-Amritsar Mail stands out. Famously known as one of the slowest trains of India, 37-hour journey vividly introduces the slow movement and beauty of India’s railroad history.

The Journey: A Long, Winding Route

The Howrah-Amritsar Mail, originating from the Howrah junction Located in West Bengal capital Kolkata through to the Amritsar junction in Punjab is a classic example of the railways service that was provided in the old days. The train of Maduri travels 1,900 kilometers and crosses many states such as West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab. However, the most remarkable thing about the train is the rather long duration that the journey takes by train, clocking not less than 37 hours on average, and can even be longer depending on the train situation on the route, and this makes it one of the slowest long distance trains in the country.

For the record, Howrah-Amritsar Mail is not slow because of the lack of infrastructure or bad conditions as it takes a few turns, stops, and crossing the railways, in the process. The train travels through many areas where tracks are interfered with by freight trains thus leading to slow movement. Moreover, the train can make many halts at different small stations apart from giving a glimpse of life in Indian countryside, the journey is slower, picturesque and more comfortable compared to many ultra-modern fast trains.

The Historic Significance

The Howrah-Amritsar Mail train carries a legend from colonial era salvageable for elaboration here. It was established during the British rule and was initially planned with objective of links Howrah, which is the heart of Eastern India with Amritsar, a city in North India which houses Golden Temple, which is very sacred for Sikhism followers. It has therefore evolved over the decades as an important cog in the social and historical wheel of the regions it targets.

This long trip through the heart of India is something that few other trains give their passengers and this is something very different from the usual race and bustle of modern transport. In contrast to the general fast trains which are seen as passing up the landscapes as well as the towns, the Howrah-Amritsar Mail offered the passengers the chance to just sit back, watch and enjoy the rural India outside the train windows.

A Slice of Life on Board

Amazingly, the Howrah-Amritsar Mail participants may not be blessed with facilities and amenities of today’s swift trains, but they have a treasure worthy of being in a historical train. It gives a look at traditional India especially for those who have never used the train on the slower and older line.

On the interior you will come across the conventional layout of Indian railway coaches, namely, the sleeper class, the second class as well as the first class coaches. Travellers are people with different occupations and many start their journey for their own reasons or travel for religious purposes since Amritsar is a holy city. The train is extremely crowded in the seasons of **Amritsar religious festivals like Baisakhi and Guru Nanak Jayanti.

During this slow travelling on the train you will feel a strong solidarity between the passengers who can even share food, stories or even travelling experiences. The endless talking, the countryside views, and the tourist attractions make the train ride exciting on Georgian railways using an antique train.

How the use of the train has reduced

Over the years the Howrah Amritsar Mail has lost its charm, partly because of the new trains which are faster than the Mail and take a little over sixteen hours if it is the Shatabdi Express. With the advancement in technology and in particular take-off in affordable and convenient air transport, long, slow train journeys on trains such as the Howrah-Amritsar Mail gradually began to pale in popularity. However, despite making the overall journey longer the train remains a popular choice for a particular cross section of the population, be they the leisurely traveler or those on a tight budget.

The concept of the train is in its tradition and in the gradual movement along the Indian territory. It enables the passenger to sample what most modern trains would option out; the culture, geography and even monuments. Therefore, the much emerging challenges of the 21st century have not totally locked up the doors of preferring the Howrah-Amritsar Mail, of course, apart from those rail fans who have a preferential inclination on historical and traditional perceptions of rail travelling.

You may like – The Vande Bharat Train Connecting Kashmir to New Delhi with Speed and Comfort

The Potential of the Howrah Amritsar Mail

The future of this Howrah Amritsar Mail is not quite certain. Given the current improvements in the high-speed trains and continuous railway infrastructural change in India, it is not astonishing to predict that the existing Howrah-Amritsar Mail might be upgraded sometime soon, possibly with features and speed. But the decrease of this characteristic can lead to relying the failed attempts to repeal the train’s reputation and its image of a slow-paced and charming means of transport.

For now the Howrah-Amritsar Mail still moves on along the tracks and offers its travelers the chance on a slow and leisurely mode of transport, which is not only a chance to really experience the Indian land and people, but also to meet a part of the railway history of the country.

Conclusion

It is a great loss to India though the Howrah-Amritsar Mail stands testimony to the railway history. Though its travel is however long and sluggish, it is a novel and patronizing mode of transport that fast trains are not capable of providing. It is not just a mode of transportation but an exploration of India and it’s geography, culture and heritage in a very unhurried, unhyped manner.