Our return train from Hospete Junction was delayed, and to add to the fun they made a last minute platform change. We (and everyone else on the platform) had to haul our bags up and over the footbridge from platform one to platform two.

We found our carriage and cabin a bit easier this time – after last night’s confusion I now know what I’m looking for in terms of numbering. We were slightly relieved to see that we were in a couchette (a two person cabin), so no sharing tonight. Hopefully that will mean we’ll get some sleep before we arrive at 5am (assuming the train makes up time overnight) at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (formerly Victoria Terminus) in Mumbai. It’s an extraordinary gothic building which I’ve seen on tv. I’m excited to get to see it in person.

This first-class carriage is slightly better appointed than the first one we travelled in. Having the cabin to ourselves means we can lock the door overnight (Michael seems concerned that we could be robbed in the night – talking with too many Daily Mail readers, obviously), also this carriage has a nice European-style sit-down loo (hallelujah), although I did nearly flood it when I pulled rather than pushed the flush! The handle came right off and a spout of water shot out of the wall. I stuck it back on quickly – I don’t think any permanent damage was done.

Our couchette has an interesting decor which immediately made me think of former British PM Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie (formerly a Symonds – fortunately no relation). They caused a storm when they decorated a room in their Downing Street flat with some very expensive (£800+ a roll) hand printed Indian-inspired wallpaper. The walls and table of our couchette are decorated in an equally flamboyant pattern. Maybe Boris and Carrie had a sideline doing interiors for Indian railways. It wouldn’t surprise me, he seemed to have plenty of other jobs other than running the country when he was an MP.