Shramshakti: The Love 🚆

In the aspect of a large population and connectivity, Kanpur owns one of the five central railway stations of India. The Kanpur Central connects major cities in India and yes India's capital too. Based on the increased demand for connectivity to New Delhi, on September 1st, 2002 Nothern Central Railway introduced a non-stop train, Shramshakti Express, between New Delhi and Kanpur. Since then this train is known as a night-rider of this route. However, to be in the busiest Delhi-Howrah route, there are already many other trains connecting Kanpur to New Delhi still, this train owes another level of a bond to every Kanpurist.

__ What makes this train unique?

Shramshakti express is a non-stop superfast train and preferred by common people, VVIPs, and ministers due to its punctuality, timing, and safety. The train equipped with RPF guards and with zero stoppage, for 410 km, anyone doesn't need to be worried about their luggage. And many times, you might witness yourself reaching New Delhi station before the arrival time. And in winters despite fog and low visibility, this train will be always available on the time for service at respective boarding stations.

Can you imagine going to sleep on a train at a boarding station and when you get up you are already at your destination?

Yes, this train does something like that. One of the rakes runs from New Delhi to Kanpur at 11:55 pm and drops you at Kanpur at 6:30 am. And another rake runs from Kanpur to New Delhi at 11:45 pm and drops you at 6:30 am. During the journey, it covers around 440 km overnight with a single stoppage (one of the stations of Kanpur). No doubt this is why it's nominated as night-rider of the route.

__ The constant in my journey of a student to an employee

Since 2013, I started my graduation at Greater Noida, I remember the day when I was leaving my hometown for college, there were all unknown faces around me except for this familiar thing Shramshakti. Since that day till my recent visit to the home, this train is the only constant.

__ First and last attempt to get off the running train

In 2016, after the winter breaks off I was returning back to the college from my home. I boarded this train from Kanpur Central. It was heavy fog on the route and we were running already late by 2 hours when we were crossing the Ghaziabad Junction. Our train got slow, and I saw a few people were getting off the running train. Since Ghaziabad was near to the college rather than the New Delhi Junction. Immediately my mind gave some signals to my body. After this, I remember myself slipped over the platform and people around laughing on me while the Shramshakti going in style taking curves from the end of platform. Believe me, that time the train was not looking that much slower from the platform.

__ Meeting an unexpected old mate

This might sound a bit filmy, but on this train, I met a person in a very weird way. We were supposed to know each other for a long time but somehow we were running out of the contact. One day returning back from Kanpur, I was all settled and sitting over my upper berth. Then suddenly I saw a person entering the coach and getting settled next to mine berth. The person was looking familiar but I couldn't able to believe my luck. So despite jumping on a conclusion by myself, I texted that person I waited for a while and didn't hear back, so I decided to forget and sleep. You won't believe the next day I got to know my luck could be great sometimes.

__ Seasons of this train

It's true, with months this train changes its color. In May and December train converted to a holiday train, families traveling to their holiday destination. In July and February, you can see this as Hogwards Express, moving students to their respective colleges. In November and March, this train becomes a festival express, bringing people to their homes.

__ Why do I prefer only this train?

There are many super fast trains actively running between New Delhi - Kanpur route. However, any of the trains don't match the timing and reliability of this train. And the best part, in case you forget to wake up the train won't take you to some other station. In any season, we don't need to wait for this train to come on the platform cause it is already waiting down for us. And that's why I called this train "the love".  ❤