A quick trip log:
1. Bangalore to Alappuzha by Kerala SRTC Garuda Multi-Axle Volvo on May 09, 2014
Selecting this bus was an obvious decision - a new service, from our own RTC. I made the booking on the day the reservation was opened (April 30, 2014) through the ticketing counter at Satellite Bus Station on Mysore Road. I had to attend a wedding in Pandalam on Saturday, May 10. While I booked the ticket, I wasn't very worried about the arrival time in Alappuzha, but the bus turned out to be locked at 65kmph, and on the first few days delays over 3-4 were standard. This made me a bit worried, and I made it a point to head to Satellite and check out with the crew every day I could.
Finally on the day of journey, I reached Satellite BS around 1630hrs. The crew in the bus were known to me - so a round of pleasantries were exchanged. Boarding started at 1645hrs -the AC was running already. The bus was fully sold out - so last minute ticket seekers were turned away. Bus started off at 1704hrs - the driver struggled a bit to get the bus on to the highway - the engine did not respond at all to the throttle input (could be related to the fact that the bus hasn't reached its first service till now).
Traffic was heavy as usual. We reached Madiwala at 1759 and left at 1805. The bus did not take the EC Flyover - since we had pickup at Bommanahalli and E.City. The bus had to wait for sometime after EC since a passenger missed the bus. After all pick-ups were passed EC Toll gate at 1846. Hosur passed at 1920hrs. Dinner break was at "Hotel Saravana Bhavan Classic", just before Krishnagiri (2001hrs, dep at 2035hrs). The drivers changed here - the second guy was a new driver (new to Volvo as well as to the route). We were just nearing Thoppur as the clock went past 2145. I slept after that. The driving seemed good - no harsh brakes. I slept through till Thrissur. We reached Thrissur at 0324 (quite late by "Garuda" Standards). Left at 0335. The driver changed again, and an older driver (he had driven till Krishnagiri from Bangalore) took over. He was quite quick on the road.
We reached Vyttila at 0500 - took a quick tea break and left at 0507hrs. I was dropped at Alappuzha Medical College Junction at 0606hrs - 13hrs end-to-end - slightly on the higher side, but quite good for a new bus locked at 80kmph.
One thing that I did not like - a ticket checker got in at 4AM, and woke up all the passengers. Lights were left on for quite a lot of time till he finished checking all the 48 passengers. This could've been avoided in a premium service - especially at such odd hours for a long running bus.
2. Ernakulam to Bangalore by Kerala SRTC Garuda Multi-axle on May 11, 2014.
I hadn't booked any return ticket when leaving from Bangalore. I still wonder how did I do that. I had some back-up plans in mind - some buses which hardly get passengers. I was just casually browsing the Kerala RTC online reservation portal after reaching Alappuzha, when this "18.30 ERNAKULAM-BANGLALORE ACM" service caught my attention. So that was the new Ernakulam-Bangalore Multi-axle service. Without wasting time, booked a ticket on that bus - the fare was Rs. 1101 + reservation charges.
![Intercity Bus travel reviews-img_6907.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/commercial-vehicles/1240042d1690759280t-intercity-bus-travel-reviews-img_6907.jpg)
I reached Ernakulam BS at around 1700hrs on the day of my journey. My bus (RS782, KL-15-A-280) was being prepared for the journey. They were putting up a garland, and cleaning the bus. The bus was being flagged of that day - the honours were done by Ernakulam MLA Shri. Hibi Eden. Flag off was perfectly on time, and we moved out at 1835hrs (5 mins late - passenger was caught up in the inauguration melee and got into the bus late).
![Intercity Bus travel reviews-img_6923.jpg](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attachments/commercial-vehicles/1240043d1690759280t-intercity-bus-travel-reviews-img_6923.jpg)
This time both the drivers were new hands - and the conductor too was in the route for the first time. The drivers struggled a bit to maneuver the 13.7M bus through the narrow alleys of Kochi. Reached Vyttila at 1857, and left at 1902. As the bus left Vyttila, the crew noticed something amiss with the passenger door - it did not open every time they wanted it to open. They tried repairing it themselves, but did not succeed. We lost some time in the process. Passed Aluva at 1958, and reached Ankamaly BS at 2016hrs - here mechanics were called to correct the door. It was some loose contact, and things were set right quickly. We got moving at 2038hrs. We were already over an hour late.
The driver meant business as he hit the road - this bus too was speed locked at 80kmph. The driver kept that speed and ensured he did not lose momentum by hard brakes. Finally reached Thrissur at 2125hrs - 55 minutes late. A lot of pax got down, and an equal number got in. We ensured that the bus had 48/48pax all the time! Left Thrissur at 2138hrs - 1h08m late. By now pax who got in from Ernakulam were hungry and some of them questioned the crew - the responded saying they were new and will stop in the next hotel.
By now most hotels were closed. We stopped at a regular "bus motel" in Alathur at 2231hrs. I had brought my food, so used this time to stretch a bit. The bus left at 2306hrs after food. The bus pulled into a fuel station inside Palakkad town at 2343hrs, took in 157lts of diesel, and started off at 2350hrs. There are instructions from the management that the fuel tank door should be kept locked at all times, and the key to that should be kept along with the ignition key - this meant that they had to switch off the engine (and the AC) and then refuel. (A good thing from the safety PoV, but bad from the passenger comfort PoV)
Palakkad BS was reached at 2355hrs - two passengers got off, and two got in. We left at 0000hrs. I slept even before we were back on the highway - woke up just as we were nearing Hosur - it was 0600hrs now. We stopped near Electronic City at 0630hrs. The bus did not take the Elevated road. I was dropped at Bommanahalli at 0643hrs - overall 12h08m end-to-end. Quite good - considering the fact that we lost around 30-35 minutes trying to fix the door, evening traffic in Cochin, plus the dinner break of 35 minutes and fueling time of 07 minutes. Over the coming days, this service will get fine tuned further and it should be doing the distance in under 12 hours. With an 80kmph lock in place, there are no chances of heroics on the road as well. Both the drivers drove really well - both of them hit 80kmph quickly and ensured they did not lose momentum. Overtakes were well signalled and horn usage was minimum.
I am sure this service will be my preferred choice hence forth.
General remarks on both the services -
1. The buses were really clean inside. Curtains were clean, and headrest covers were in place.
2. They did not provide blankets in both my trips (in the outward trip the conductor had limited stock, but in the return trip they did not have a single blanket) - so carrying one is recommended.
3. They do no provide water bottles.
Quote:
Originally Posted by silversteed Sidenote:
Binaiks, it was a pleasure meeting you at the dinner break point. Hope to meet you again another day ![Smile](https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.png) |
It was a pleasure meeting you as well. Hope we run into each other some other day again.