My journey in a 21 lakh km done, 14 year old KSRTC Volvo B7R

What surprised me is how the machine has weathered many a storm and is still going strong.

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Introduction

"Experience with a difference" - this is how I'd sum up my recent encounter with a Volvo B7R, aged 14, and with a jaw dropping 21 lakh kms on the odo. What surprised me is how the machine has weathered many a storm and is still going strong. Read on to find out more!

How the opportunity came up

Rather than call a company car to travel 350km, pick me up and again take me there, I decided to do part distance by a KSRTC Volvo, and have the company car pick me up from where I was alighting. I had two options for the time of my departure - a KSRTC EV Power Plus OR a KSRTC Airavat B7R. I chose Airavat since I'd never experienced the B7R from KSRTC (have experienced the B7R from GSRTC umpteen times and also the good old Raj National Express from Surat to Nasik once). This Airavat was Shivamogga bound, and that meant old fleet (all Shivamogga bound B7Rs and B11Rs that I have seen are oldies). I was still hoping against hope to see a new one in service.

At Kempegowda Bus Terminal 2

When I reached the appointed platform at KBS Terminal2, my heart initially sank as I saw this old Airavat waiting there, but the mood began changing rather quickly.

1. I discovered that this was a mid-2010 registered vehicle; at 14 years, it did show its age in bits but was still in overall good shape
2. When the engine was started up, there was a minor starting delay (maybe a crank or two more than other Volvos), but surprisingly, the engine note was almost stock
3. Seats were in very good shape for a bus this old
4. Aircon was top notch and did the job well even when set at 24 deg.C
5. The dashboard showed very few signs of ageing, and the console showed none

Airavat waiting at KBS Terminal2

Rear view

Views of KBS Terminal2; rather neatly kept for a Bus Station

View of the cockpit - the front sunblind has taken a beating with time

Engine note (please listen in with headphones on).

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