Re: Train Review: Orange Vs White Vande Bharat Express | What's Changed? Bouyed by posts of dear member Vigsom tried Vande Bharat train between Chennai and Tirunelveli. One word - Fantastic.
This was a short family summer gettogether visit to Tuticorin. For short time India visitors like us train travel is always difficult due to time. But this train promised 6 hours travel to cover 540 kms so all things fell in place.
Flight tickets came to 10 k per person for round trip, so 30 k for 3 people. Rains were predicted so couldnt drive. Decided to try trains this time. Booked Vande bharat for onward and Nellai 1 AC for return.
Vande Bharat (9/10)
Arrived on the dot af 3:13 pm at Tambaram station.
Tea and snacks: Popcorn, puffed rice and spinach vada - not oily - excellent.
Beautiful view of Madurantakam Lake General observations: - Legroom was much much better than Indigo flight seat. NVH was excellent. No clikaty clack sounds.
- Luggage has no restriction like flight.
- Can bring home cooked food and eat.
- Restrooms were clean - It was also cleaned twice during the 7 hour journey.
- Just before Tiruchy it started raining cat and dogs - visibility was near 0 - yet they constantly maintained 110 kmphr . Rain caused 10 min delay at Tiruchy and it was never made up.
- The window beadings look ill fitted so feared water might leak - but am happy to report no water leakage was noticed.
- Best part: Since it was summer holiday season, train was full of families with school kids. My super girl had a blast with the kids and reminded of 90s train travel. Somebody played "Thanimayile inimai kana mudiyuma" (Translation: can one find happiness by being lonely?) tamil classic song and it was apt for this travel.
- Dinner was simple and tasty - tried the veg combo.
- Since there were lot of kids, one child dropped the food tray and food got spilled in the row behind us. The cleaning crew were notified and they immediately swung into action and in 5 mins the mess was cleared and given a nice dettol wipe. Kudos to the whole cleaning and managing crew .
- Only downside for me - no stoppage at Kovilpatti for easy transferring to Tuticorin. Had to get down at Virudhunagar and it added 45 mins travel time by car. Hope this stoppage is implemented soon.
Never ever flying Indigo from Chennai to Tuticorin again. Flight travel usually takes 6 hours from home to home travel. Train took 9 hours at 1/3 of the price and was a million times more fun. Thank you Vigsom!!
Return journey was through Nellai 1 AC (5/10).
Clikaty clack sound.
Stinky toilets
Rainwater leakage near the doors. |