First of all, the boarding process is quite different from what we are used to in many other countries. There are no ticket-checking gates or inspectors at the railway stations, allowing people to freely enter and exit the platforms and board trains. However, ticket inspection is carried out on the train, and those caught evading tickets will be fined several times the fare. This loose pre-boarding check but strict on-train inspection system is rather special.

Secondly, the train carriages are often overcrowded. Passengers not only fill the seats but also spill out into the aisles, and it is not uncommon to see people sitting or even hanging on the outside of the train. This scene of "people-packed trains" has become an iconic image associated with Indian trains, which is really astonishing.

Moreover, the train operation lacks some common facilities and announcements. For example, there is no station announcement system on Indian trains. Passengers need to rely on the kindness of fellow passengers. They have to inform at least three people around them of their destination, and these warm-hearted Indians will remind them before the station arrives. This unique way of getting information also adds to the distinctiveness of Indian train travel. All in all, Indian trains show a side that is quite different from the common perception of trains in other parts of the world, living up to the title of "cheating".