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^^ My comment was on the body style and not the comfort/ride quality. I have not travelled in MSRTC and could only look at the body from outside. Hence it was a generic comment on how the looks of other RTCs have evolved but MSRTC seems to be in time wrap from the looks perspective. Also agree that any day function over form is always better.

I was also unware that all MSRTC buses are of 2X2 configuration. Other APSRTC experts could correct me but APSRTC has a normal (3 X 2), express (3 x 2), luxury (2 x 2), super luxury(2 x 2 with air supension), Carona sleepers, Garuda (Volvo)and now Garuda + (Multi axles).

I just returned back from a Chennai-Tirupathi on APSRTC super luxury which is Asiad's equivalent with 2 X 2 seats, air suspension at the rear. Chennai Tirupathi was done in 3 hrs 15 mins on both legs. The bodies were built by two different companies and both were Tata 1610LPO? NVH levels are horrible when idle but as the rpm picks up, the engine seems pretty refined. Have noticed the phenomenon on Marcopolo SLFs in Chennai MTC. Is it a the trait of the Cummins engine or is it just bad mounting?

APSRTC does not have Corona Sleepers. APSRTC uses Isuzu Sleepers. The APSRTC Classes are: Ordinary (Pallevallegu), Express (both these with 2x3 seating), Deluxe (2x2 seating without pushback), Super Luxury (2x2 seating with pushback and air suspension), Garuda (Isuzu/Cerita/Volvo/TML Globus/AL Luxura), Garuda Plus (Volvo/MB Multi-Axles) and Vennela (Isuzu A/C Sleepers).

In addition to these, they have "Sapthagiri Express" and "Sapthagiri Super Luxury" for Tirumala services.

APSRTC Super Luxury is NOT equal to any class of MSRTC. MSRTC buses fall into two categories: Ordinary/Express (they call it Parivartan now, which has a 2x2 seating) and Asiad (Semi-Luxury, 2x2 seating with air suspension). Above this they have "AC Sheetal" (Air conditioned Semi-Luxury buses), "Shivneri" (Volvo B7Rs) and "Ashwamedh" (Volvo multi-axles)

APSRTC's Deluxe is equivalent to MSRTC's Parivartan (2x2 Express).

They are phenomenon of Cummins engines.
If you have used direct buses to Thirumala they are most likely to be LP 1512.

Indra 2x2 AC Air suspension from AL 12M is missed.

@Binai and @Ashley
Thanks for the clarifications.

During my recent trip to Tirupati, saw a Sapthagiri delux with push back seats. On my earlier to Manthralayam, Nandhayal, I did see a few delux buses with push back seats at Allegadda bus stand while I was waiting for a bus to Kadapa. I in fact boarded the Kurnool -Chennai Delux which had push back seats but came out as I did not get a seat. Also remember seeing a Corona sleeper at Tirupati bus stand from far. Perhaps it was KSRTC and I mistook it as APSRTC

Sneak preview of newly flagged off 12M's:
The seating capacity will be 43+Driver+Conductor+ small seat in last row. Air suspension is not fitted 100% and is a mixed one. About 10 body builders from Chennai/Karur/Blore have been given contract to build coaches. The livery is new and its common across all builders. A boot is provided at the rear portion with out chopping frame.



Reclining type seats from unknown supplier.


Berth provided behind driver seat. No idea why the lower portion of driver seat in converted to this wire arrangement inspite of AL providing a full seat.


There is also a small water container located behind the conductor seat.


The small VIP seat in last row.

This berth looks good for the spare driver. It is going to seat extra passengers during season.

The water container reminds me of JJTC time when they used to supply tea inside the bus.

First of all a big thanks for sharing these pics. I hope we will see all 473 12M UDs of SETC buses soon. And they should restore all the routes which are kept idle because of shortage of buses.

10 body builders is really a great list. Till now we have seen buses from Irizar TVS, KMS and Gemini Coach of Karur. From Chennai means, G.S body builders got any contract?

KMS and Irizar looks really cool. Old lot of 12M UDs built by KMS got LED lamps inside the buses. Irizar built buses got regular CFL based lights for interiors and they were 48 seaters.

I have seen this type in many buses in TNSTCs. Basically drivers are not comfortable with the seats that are coming up with original chassis or so. Even the SLF driver seats are changed like this.

Saw these type of steel containers in 12M UD ACs of TNSTC-Coimbatore, SETC and TNSTC-Madurai.

What happened to the government coach building industry ? Has it been scrapped..I thought the erstwhile TTC, TPTC had their own coach building units ....
I am not against the private coaches, somehow I feel they might not be apt for the abuse meted out to the state run buses.

They are still functioning. Since they cant build more number of buses. Outsourcing of body building started long back.

In the recent past all SETC(Ex TTC) buses are built by private body builders. They have done some body building for other TNSTCs.

We have separate body building units for almost all divisions of TNSTUs.
Body building units and locations:
MTC :- Chrompet
SETC :- Nagercoil, Villupuram
TNSTC-Coimbatore :- Pollachi, Udumalpet and Pallipalayam.
TNSTC-Salem :- Namakkal and Dharmapuri
TNSTC-Kumbakonam :- Manmangalam(Karur), Karaikudi, Porayar, Pudhukottai
TNSTC-Madurai :- Pasumalai(Madurai), Bathlakundu, Virudhunagar
TNSTC-Tirunelveli :- Tirunelveli, Ranithottam(Nagercoil)
TNSTC-Villupuram :- Vilupuram, Vellore, Kanchipuram etc.,

The driver's seat heats up a lot as it's close to the engine and the best method to keep the seat ventilated is the wire mesh arrangement. Otherwise, for the distances these drivers sit, they'll develop a piles problem if it was cushion seat.

Thanks ! 15 years back, there used to be coaches from TVS and SRVS competing. I think it is now Irizar TVS and what happened to SRVS coaches? Are they all gone ?

All I see now is fancy coaches coming in from Karur.

The state of buses was really bad till some years ago in Bihar.But now,the old buses are being replaced by better and newer buses.A new luxury service has started between a few cities of Bihar and they are connected by multiaxle Volvos/Mercedes.clap:

That's really cool !

Looking at the photo, all the signs of a developing state/nation.....IIT JEE/ Medical looked at by the Volvo multi-axle :)

I can visualize the agony of the passenger traveling on this seat The leakage and rattling of the water container is evident from day one:D

This is really a Royal seat:D.The so called "real' VIP's should be made to travel on this seat for an overnight journey.

Cheers!

OK - These are PPP mode and are operated by private parties with revenue sharing with STU's.(Here not even the private parties are pity, the financing companies will face the heat if something goes wrong)
Most likely they will come with more of normal buses in near future.

If at all he sleeps in that seat, in next fifth minute he will be shuttling between first row and last row