1st MEMU Ride in 3 Years

It was a long while since I had travelled in local trains(even EMUs) and my last MEMU ride happened in the summer of 2006. MEMU stands for - Mainline Electric Multiple Unit. These trains are vestibuled unlike EMU trains and also have wider windows then any coaches with barred windows.

Let's now get to the point. On this occasion, I was travelling from Durg to Raipur(in Chhatisgarh,India). Durg station was a 10 min walk from my College. I set off at 16.30 and reached Durg stn. at 16.40. This came as a not-so-pleasant experience as the front glass panes of the station building were removed for change and the building appeared haunted with bats flying around !!! After seeing off my friend who had to board a Nagpur-bound train, I set off in pursuit of my MEMU standind on PF5. I decided to take the MEMU for the sole purpose of enjoyment. I was quite empty and the only passengers were students from neighbouring colleges. I occuped a window seat in the 3rd coach from the Engine(0r whatever). The train itself consisted of 8 coaches. We got Amber signal at exactly 17.00. After clearing the TSR of 10Kmph, the LP began to press the throttle and I got what I had anticipated - great acceleration by the MEMU as compared to any other Superfast(or even Rajdhani/Shatabdi). But my delight was short-lived as the train halted at the next station, barely 4Km away. This was to be the trend of the short trip as the MEMU halted a total of 10 times(including overtakes) during the course of the 37 Km long journey.

The one thing about the MEMU that completely freaked me out was its braking system, which consisted of short bursts of hard braking which sounded similar to a bus. The section between Durg-Raipur is triple-lined and the SECR controllers used this to full effect by halting our train just before Kumhari station to allow the mighty 2070 Janshatabdi Exp(Gondia-Raigarh) to pass at a blazing speed, complete with 17 sparking coaches behind a powerful Bhilai WAM4. I didn't understand their logic. Why not to halt at Kumhari itself ? This could have allowed the passengers to alight for a drink.

Anyways, we proceeded ahead to reach Raipur finally at 18.25 instead of 18.00, taking 85 min for just 37 km and cementing my view of not travelling by locals, atleast in near future.

Best Wishes,
Animesh Kishore