The vloggers capturing life on India’s trains

The video begins using the chugging sound of the train in motion.

The yellow board along with Rameswaram written within black lets you know if you’re departing the tropical isle town in India’s southern state of Tamil Nadu.

Then you see bucolic scenery, and then the sea, streaking past the train’s windows. Vendors selling sizzling hot samosas (a popular Indian snack) file past you. You observe families chatting; individuals dozing. You take a trip to the train’s bathroom and watch an argument break out between two people over more baggage room.

Before you know it, might reached your destination – Chennai in Tamil Nadu — a 10-hour-long trip condensed to a thirteen minute video.

This is one of the many videos created by Himanshu Yadav, a 22-year-old who can make vlogs – or even video blogs – on Indian trains.

Carrying more than a mil passengers every year the particular Indian railways – Asia’s largest railway network and the world’s fourth largest – is one of the most popular and inexpensive modes of transportation.

Train vloggers the BBC spoke to say that they are on a mission to generate more interest in railways. Their own videos capture why is train journeys exciting, while some are trying to really make a difference by highlighting complications commuters face.

Akshay Malhotra’s minute-long vlogs upon Instagram show a more luxurious side of the trains.

The 25-year-old software engineer shoots his reels within some of India’s premium long-distance trains. He or she uploads these video clips on his Instagram accounts @JourneyswithAK, which has racked up about 135, 000 followers within the six months since he started it. A longer edition of these vlogs goes up on his YouTube station.

In his videos, one particular gets to experience the brand new glass-sided railway carriages, plush dining cars and private air-conditioned coupes. He evaluations the food, bathing and washroom facilities, seating and sleeping agreements and offers tips for those travelling with pets.

Mr Malhotra says he travels by himself money, and that the one-way luxury teach ticket to a destination in India can cost up to 8, 1000 rupees ($100; £87). But he will not mind the expense.

“The thing about a teach journey is that it gives you enough time to explore – whether that’s a person, a route or even a place, ” says Mr Malhotra.

Vishwajeet Singh, 25, on the other hand, likes to document what train journey is like for the lower middle-class.

In the YouTube channel — V S Monu vlogs – that has about 885, 000 subscribers, Mr Singh uploads videos shot in compartments exactly where ticket fares are usually cheaper, but you will find fewer facilities and a lot more passengers.

Hailing from a small town in Bihar, Mr Singh began making vlogs five years ago. Since that time, he has earned the reputation among his subscribers for “showing reality” and for highlighting “scams taking place on trains”.

In his video clips, he finds out whether or not the train is working on time; and whether the washrooms, berths and waiting rooms are clean. He investigations out the quality and price of food and attacks up conversations with fellow passengers and railway staff.

Viewers thank him for highlighting the particular “appalling conditions” in certain trains, while others request him questions related to ticket prices or food or talk about details about bad encounters they’ve had throughout their journeys. He says he also gets requests from people inquiring him to visit and review trains they’ve had terrible encounters in.

The popularity associated with his videos offers earned him several brand sponsorships and a YouTube silver enjoy button – an award given to the most watched channels. However the vlogger says this popularity is a double-edged sword. “Many railway staff recognise me personally now, so they’re extra careful whenever I’m in the teach, ” he says.

Mr Yadav, who also runs the Youtube . com channel Train Enthusiasts HY and has regarding 165, 000 subscribers, enjoys taking teach journeys that are more likely to result in “captivating” content material.

Earlier this year, he went on a three-hour-long journey from Banihal to Baramulla in Kashmir in -5C (23F) cold. His 11-minute video — shot from inside the train – has been seen over a million times and captures snow-covered landscapes and blue-grey skies.

Along with filming scenic vistas, Mr Yadav furthermore shares information about the history of trains as well as other trivia – like which is India’s oldest sea bridge or longest train tunnel.

“I’ve started which includes drone shots of scenic locations trains pass through in my videos, ” says Mister Yadav. “They provide the videos a motion picture quality and viewers love it. ”

He quit his job a year ago, and now earns up to 100, 000 rupees per month through brand offers and YouTube advertisements.

“I have cherished trains since I was obviously a child, ” says Mr Yadav.

“Train journeys are full of possibilities and I try to capture the wonder and excitement I feel regarding train journeys in my videos. ”