I traveled on this train on November 2nd, 2024, from Lucknow (LKO) to Prayagraj (PRG) in the CC (Chair Car) class. Here are some observations:

1. The train was powered by a CNB WAG-9 engine. The number of GS (General Second Class) coaches was more than what was mentioned in the train composition.
2. The AC chair car coach was locked and only opened around 6:50 am. The train was already on platform 8 (PF8). The Lucknow Mail with a GZB WAP-5 engine (which had HOG connectors but mentioned non-HOG in the sticker) arrived on PF1.
3. Be sure to buy water bottles or snacks at LKO or bring them from home. There isn't a single food shop on PF8.
4. Thankfully, the chair car coach is disconnected from the GS coaches since the GS coaches don't have vestibules. This means no GS crowd can enter the chair car. On the downside, vendors en route don't enter the CC coach at any platform along the way.
5. My train was delayed by 1 hour that day. However, regular passengers said the train usually runs on time.
6. The chair car coach was completely packed. Throughout the entire journey, even the TTE (Ticket Examiner) and the AC attendant had to stand. I thought the TTE had a dedicated seat, but perhaps some other senior staff might have been sitting there. Since the Vande Bharat train wasn't running on Saturday, that might also be a reason for the crowd. Officials should be sensible and ensure Vande Bharat has a day off on weekdays instead of weekends, as it's done in South India.
7. I want to repeat that at any intermediate station, there will be no tea vendor, water bottle vendor, or samosa vendor inside the coach.
8. Only at Raebareli can you get tea and samosas on the platform. Since the train was delayed, it barely stopped for 2 minutes, and only young people could manage to buy and return to the coach.
9. Water was available in the toilets and washbasins. Cleanliness was minimal.
10. The cleanliness inside the coach was basic. The trash in the water bottle holders wasn't cleaned at LKO.
11. The cooling was low but somewhat comfortable.
12. The upper luggage rack is narrower, so people had to keep their luggage in line with the rack. Therefore, it's advised to come early if you have big suitcases as there might not be enough space left.
13. The train stopped at Phaphamau for a good 10 minutes even though there's no scheduled stop there.
14. You can easily get an Ola/Uber from PRG. At PRG, you need to climb the overbridge, and there's no ramp like at Prayagraj Junction (PRYJ). For elderly people, Pryagraj Sangam (PYGS) might be a better option.
15. Since it's a single line after Unchahar, delay recovery isn't possible for this train.
16. At Gopalganj, we were surprised to see another train called the Lucknow Prayagraj Sangam Intercity. This was a special train that was coming from Amethi.

Blank.

Agar teri favourite seat chahiye General Class mein Lucknow Varanasi Shuttle Superfast mein, to mere tareeke ko follow kar. Yeh tareeka sabse jyada daily aur experienced travellers use karte hain aur newcomers ismein achhe nahi hote. Lucknow se yeh train 6:00 PM par chhodi jaati hai aur boarding usually 5:15 PM ke baad shuru hoti hai. Par yeh train ya to plateforms ke beech run-through line par khadi hoti hai ya Dilkusha Cabin ki taraf yard mein. Train wahaan khadi ho to tu andar sneek kar sakte hai. Kuch gates usually already khule hote hain aur tu actual plateform par train aati hai tab tak un coach mein enter kar sakte hai. Par is trick ko karne ke liye tumhe 2 ghante pehle aana padega. 😜

◆ If you're getting a waitlist ticket from GKP to CNB or MTJ, make sure to check from DEOS. It's under the general quota and most of the time tickets are available for ₹415 instead of ₹400 from Gorakhpur, which falls under the RLWL quota. ◆ One important thing: book tickets the night before. For EXP - the departure time from CPR is 5:30 AM, so the chart gets prepared by 9:00 PM on the previous night for DEOS quota, and for GKP quota, it gets prepared by 9:30 or 10:00 PM. ◆ Most of the time, you'll find over 100 vacant seats in sleeper class and plenty in AC class too. This is simply because this train only has a 'Super Fast' tag, although it doesn't get priority like a SF. ◆ You can trust this train only if you have no other option or you're not time bound. ● Enjoy ●

◆ Agar tumko GKP se CNB ya MTJ tak waiting list ka ticket mil raha hai, toh DEOS se check kar lo, wahaan general quota mein aata hai aur zyada tar samay mein ticket ₹415 mein milte hai, jabki Gorakhpur se ₹400 mein milte hai, jo ki RLWL quota mein aata hai.
◆ Ek important baat hai:-
Pichhli raat hi ticket book kar lena.
For EXP - CPR se 05:30 AM ko nikalne wali train hai, toh chart pichhli raat 09:00 PM tak taiyaar ho jata hai DEOS quota ke liye aur GKP quota ke liye bhi chart 09:30 ya 10:00 PM tak taiyaar ho jata hai.
◆ Zyada tar samay mein SL mein 100+ seat khali hoti hai aur AC class mein bhi bahut saari, bas is train ke paas 'Super Fast' tag hai lekin priority nahi milti hai jaise kisi Super Fast train ko milti hai.
◆ Is train par bharosa kar sakte ho jab aapke paas koi aur option nahi hai ya aapka time bound nahi hai.
● Mauj lo ●

A lot of people get confused when they have to change trains or get on/off at Lucknow because their trains start from two different stations - LJN and LKO. This tip will definitely help them. Look at the attached image. The blue arrow shows Lucknow Charbagh station, also known as the "Badi Line," which is part of the Northern Railways. The black arrow shows Lucknow Junction station, also known as the "Choti Line," which is under the North Eastern Railway. Lucknow Charbagh station is a pass-through station, so trains don't need to reverse here. But Lucknow Junction station is a terminal station where trains have to reverse, as you can see in the image. Now, if you need to go from Lucknow Charbagh to Lucknow Junction, exit from Platform 1 towards the CNB side. Don't exit towards the Varanasi side because you'll have to walk more. Once you're outside, look to the left. You'll see another building in front of you. Go there and enter it. You'll be at Lucknow Junction. This changeover will only take 8-10 minutes. So if you have a changeover at LKO/LJN, 30 minutes is more than enough as a buffer (just an example, never keep a small buffer for changeovers. Always keep at least 2-3 hours for all train changeovers at any station). This LJN station is newer compared to LKO and has fewer options for food, books, and everything else compared to Lucknow Charbagh station (LKO).

Bahut saare log apni train change aur board-alight ko Lucknow me karte hai aur unko dono alag-alag station se shuru hone wali traine dekhkar confusion hota hai - LJN aur LKO. Ye tip un logo ki madad zaroor karegi.
Dekho attached image. Neeli teer Lucknow Charbagh station ko dikhata hai, jise "Badi Line" kehte hai aur ye Northen Railways ke control me hai. Kaala teer Lucknow Junction station ko dikhata hai, jise "Choti Line" kehte hai aur ye North Eastern Railway ke control me hai.
Lucknow Charbagh station ek pass through station hai jahaan trains ko raike reversal ki zaroorat nahi hoti. Lekin Lucknow Junction station ek terminal type station hai jahaan raike reversal zaroori hai, jaise ki aap image me clearly dekh sakte ho.
Ab agar tumhe Lucknow Charbagh se Lucknow Station tak jaana hai, toh LKO ke bahar aao Pf 1 side se aur CNB side (Iss liye kyunki agar tum dusri taraf se exit karte ho, yaani Varanasi side, toh tumhe thoda zyada chalna padega.) aur bahar aane ke baad, LEFT haath ki taraf dekho. Tumhe ek aur building dikhegi...

#BoardingPoint tip. Passengers looking for GNWL quota/confirmed tickets from "Lucknow (LKO)/Kanpur Central (CNB)" in 12555 Gorakhdham Express can book GNWL from "Barabanki Jn. (BBK)". #lko2ndls #cnb2ndls.

#BoardingPoint सुझाव
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" Lucknow (LKO) / Kanpur Central (CNB) " से 12555 गोरखधाम एक्सप्रेस में GNWL कोटा / कन्फर्म टिकट ढूंढ़ रहे पैसेंजर्स यहां से GNWL बुक कर सकते हैं, "Barabanki Jn. (BBK)"
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#lko2ndls
#cnb2ndls