Indian YouTuber finds familiar similarities between general coaches in Chinese & Indian trains. See video
Indian YouTuber finds familiar similarities between general coaches in Chinese & Indian trains. See video
A recent video by Indian YouTuber Nomad Shubham, comparing the experiences of general class train travel in China and India, has gone viral, igniting debates and sparking humorous reactions across social media. Shubham’s journey in China captured a variety of familiar sights for Indian train travellers – passengers sitting on the floor and even near washrooms, a scenario that feels all too common in Indian Railways. Yet, there were key differences that stood out, particularly the air-conditioned coaches and automatic doors in the Chinese trains, features rarely found in Indian general-class compartments.
In the viral video, Shubham documented passengers creatively finding ways to manage space, with some sitting under seats and others bringing their own buckets and chairs for the journey. One of the more amusing moments showed a passenger comfortably lounging beneath a seat, with Shubham humorously labeling it as an ‘extreme level’ of adjustment.
Indian YouTuber finds the Chinese General Class similar to the Indian General Class. The only difference is that these have AC & Automatic Doors.
— Gems of Engineering (@gemsofbabus_) September 20, 2024
People are sitting outside the washroom and traveling with buckets and their chairs. 🤷🏽♂️pic.twitter.com/KgpA9D1LeO
The video, shared widely on platforms like X, garnered reactions that went beyond humor, pointing out noticeable contrasts between the two countries’ rail services. One commenter observed, “But still no wrappers on the floor, clean and no gutka,” highlighting the cleanliness of the Chinese trains compared to their Indian counterparts. Another noted, “Even the Chinese train general class have AC’s, interior like Vande Bharat, automatic door… best comfortable seats.”
However, some users argued that these comparisons weren’t entirely fair. “These are rural and vintage, not the norm. China has more HSR (high-speed rail) than the rest of the world combined,” one social media user pointed out.
Even the Chinese train general class have Ac's , interior like Vande Bharat , Automatic door.. best comfortable seats… The Whole interior is like Vande Bharat /Sleeper 2nd class like Indian trains in a Poor class train of china… Imagine what's the best Box they have… https://t.co/UoLOFYgNWD
— Abhinay Sharma (@Abhinay61574396) September 20, 2024
Other reactions emphasized how, despite the advanced infrastructure in China, the crowding issue persists. “For those who compare infrastructure to China, it’s not about infra. It’s about how people use it. And being such a large populous country, whatever you do, the cheapest option will attract crowds,” wrote a user.
While Shubham’s video was intended to be lighthearted, the ensuing discussions raised a broader question about the state of India’s rail services. The contrast between the cleanliness and added conveniences in China’s general coaches with the more overcrowded, less-equipped Indian ones was stark. Yet, many commenters expressed a shared sentiment: the need for significant improvements in the infrastructure of Indian Railways.
