While in New Delhi recently, I took the Delhi Metro. It was fast, clean and punctual. As the ‘subways’ are to crisscross under much of the Indian capital in the forthcoming future, more than 16 million Delhiites are waiting with bated breath the full-fledged metro service. Personally, it reminded me of marvellously complex metro network in Paris.

Sick and tired of ear-splitting horns picked up and blown mercilessly by deaf people — including in areas close to hospitals and schools — funnily, I cherished the smooth, low-pitch horn that Paris metro trains whistle prior to every arrival and departure.

The Delhi metro rail also reminded me that back in Nepal, at least for two decades now, we too have been waiting with bated breath, coupled with unquestionable patience, the famous Hetaunda-Kathmandu Surung train. Sadly, we are likely to put up with this ‘train deprivation’ until the cows come home.

Trains, of all kinds, are a cosy and fascinating means of transport. Passengers may feel fresh as a daisy even after a long journey, contrary to cars, jeeps and buses that make

one feel dog-tired at the end of the day. Moreover, while even old trains do not smell foul, the so-called brand new cars, jeeps and buses do. Hence, trains, old or new, are a means

of transport with an agreeable difference.

In August 2006, I was in Shanghai along with some friends. Incidentally, we all happened to be mad about trains. To our fascination, Shanghai seemed to offer an answer to a maiden’s prayer, with its fastest train of the world: Shanghai Maglev Train that whirls at 431 km/h.

The little ‘speed screen’ inside the train showed 431 km/h, and we were at seven clouds. When it began to slow down for a stop, we felt the slowness even at 400 km/h. It’s too slow, thus wisecracked a friend, and we all broke into peals of laughter. Matter of relativity, after all! While the Shanghai Maglev reached 501 km/h on a test run, the French with their Train à Grande Vitesse, popularly known as TGV, set the record at 572 km/h. But while speed is not everything, trains nearly are, especially when they imply happiest journeys. Happy Train Journey!