32 people died in a rail accident in India’s Andhra Pradesh. The government or the railways won’t cry for the victims because callousness is rampant in the corridors of power, unless the ministers are seeking votes. Rail travel is really a trauma in the subcontinent. The railways are a monopoly of the central govt. Fares are not officially raised but dubious methods are devised every now and then, ever since the railway minister met management guys at the IIM Ahmedabad.
A superfast surcharge is charged for almost all express trains. An extra berth has been introduced in the sleeper between the side berths; and the third person has to be squeezed on the 3-seater on the opposite side. So you pay the same fare but share the same space with an extra passenger. To add to your inconvenience scores of unauthorised people and their luggage will occupy your legspace, and the space near the toilets and doors. And the train water supply will collapse within a few hours of your journey.
Now reservation can be done 3 months ahead, which means that the railways gets a lot of cash which it can service. Plus, cancellations mean a windfall. Tatkal seats have been increased and you can buy a ticket 5 days in advance for a premium.The Hindu newspaper quotes officials claiming that internet booking makes it possible for the railways to sell 10,000 tickets in 8.33 minutes. Imagine. As it is there is no limit to the number of tickets sold for the general compartments which are packed like sheep vans. To entertain you for the trouble you take, the railway police allow eunuchs to parade inside the trains, prodding pasengers to pay up or face abuse. Could be a management trick. Maybe the railways get a cut from their collections.

http://guhada.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/08/rail-travel-a-torture-in-india.htm