The mightly Shatabdi Express to Ajmer Junction

This train is great - it takes 7 hours, travels over 440 km and only stops at about 5 stations on the way. There's only one FIrst Class AC (aircon) carriage and the rest are standard. We walked the length of the train to find our carriage and I counted 15. The alternative is taking a taxi down the notorious Rajasthani highway and that takes 9 plus hours which is a real drag. We paid 100Rs (about a quid) to get from the hotel to the stationin a little tuktuk, how on earth two large suitcases, two travel bags and two large Brits fitted in it I'm still not quite sure. Thank goodness he didn't take any corners at speed. Think Jeremy Clarkson in a Reliant Robin. On arriving in the station we were accosted by the usual annoyances - someone trying to sell us beads and others wanting to drag our luggage, and then when we went through the main station concourse to the platform, the barrier has a luggage xray machine (the man sat by it was having a nap) so another chap checked our ticket and said that 'there was a problem with our train' and 'it's not running today' which was utter hogwash. They are just touts who are well known to deceive foreign travellers and then sell them a taxi / tour to their destination. Bern gave him short shrift and then onto our platform where we had hot chai tea for 9 rupees a cup (about 9p). When we found our carriage, our names were printed on a passenger list taped to the outside of it which is always a reassurance.

The food on this train is always fun. You're never sure what you're going to get but it normally goes down well. They serve Tetley tea with a vacuum jug of water and some 'Marie' biscuits when you get on. We got on at 5.45am so I was gasping for a brew. There is even a printed menu on the tray the waiters bring to you your meals on that itemises everything, i.e. one knife, one pack butter, one napkin, one ketchup sachet etc. Our actual breakfast was Kelloggs corn flakes with hot milk, a banana, a choice from four vegetarian savoury options, none of which we could fathom, but we got a South Indian squashed veg couscous with fried salty potato on top, hellish hot oily curry sauce and yoghurt curd. More tea to follow (hooray) and bread with butter and jam (two pieces). I think we get more food before we get off at Ajmer, and Bern is hoping that they have the butterscotch ice cream like last time.