traveling in Kolkata tram - Dec 2021

 "Ting ting"


"Ting ting ting... Ting ting ting.. Ting ting ting ting ting ting ting... #&@.. Ting ting.."

These two styles of ringing the bell by tram driver has different effects. I will come to thst later.

Tram routes in Kolkata have dwindled and on the remaining three routes, the frequency is low. No longer can we ride the tram soaking in the view of Victoria Memorial, sprawling Maidan, Race Course and Chowringher- this best route is part of history. Trams no longer ply on Howrah bridge.

The remaining routes are Esplanade-Shyam Bazar, Esplanade- Gariahat and Ballygunge-Tollygunge. I traveled on all the three while Geetha missed Ballygunge leg as she and relatives were in process of wearing silk saree for my nephew's marriage - that is how long it takes to drape silk saree. Since Rashbehari Avenue is full of kiosks, I could hop across and buy several bunches of safety pins at short notice.

Esplanade- Shyam Bazar trip was on a single a/c coach tram. The blue tinted glass windows gave us an old film view of the streets. Since ticket was at Rs 20, we were only four in the tram. On the way back we were in a normal tram traveling I class at Rs 7 a ticket.

"Click click... Katak katak katak... Hmmm.. Ssss.. Ting ting ting..." is how tram trip sounds. I leave it to your imagination to guess what these sounds are  "click, click" is the bell conductor uses requesting the tram driver to start the tram.

All along the tram routes we could see taxis, cars and handcarts parked on the tram track. They are generally alert to possibility of a tram approacing. "Ting, ting" makes them move out of the way in time for tram to move past them without applying the brake too strongly.

Some drivers tend to take a chance darting into shops leaving their cars on the tran track. That is when the long "ting ting ting" comes into play. Passers by and onlookers turn towards the shops and shout to locate the driver. The "guilty " driver with his head down scurries to his car with the tram driver, passengers and passers shouting at him for poor traffic sense and lack of respect for others' time. On occasions, hand pulled rickshaws overtook our tram several times on long run and disgorged their patrons 😊

Tram drivers are careful. They look back out the cabin door and ensure the passengers especially women have boarded before starting the tram. Tram is hand operated whether it be the motor or the brake or the bell.

Trams would stop anywhere to take in women passengers...

What do Kolkatans mean when they say "Outline tram "? When a tram derails, it becomes "outline tram"😀


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