April 2023 - Just as the state was gearing up for the assembly elections , the centre realised their plan to launch the Vande Bharat inside Karnataka wouldn't complete before MCC. And out of the blue, a Bangalore Hubbali overnight special with a day time RSA run for the special was suddenly launched our of the blue . With limited halts , the train promised a dedicated express for the 470 km stretch, which earlier had only trains passing through for the night . The two night trains that terminated at the SWR HQ from the state capital was a slow passenger converted express and a round about Hampi express till then

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the Vande Bharat was launched and slowly , citing lack of patronage , the day RSA was cancelled . The night train top was suddenly stopped , before Twitter posts and requests launched back the train post the cancellation

Similar to the 07339/40 , our office too launched a monthly two Saturday holiday scheme and we chose it as 1st and 3rd Saturday. With the temperature already rising , it was decided that I use the Saturday benefit immediately before temperature spared up

However , weekend trains are as usual tough to get , and whichever location we checked had a good waitlist. Finally , we settled that we have a quick visit to Davanagere for the weekend. 17391, the dedicated overnight for Davanagere, an express converted with 5 SL was way high in waitlist, while 07340 still showed 200 available . With 5 days to go, just put it in a halt

Monday evening showed the worst side , with within the 24 hours , 200 available was down to 20 available. Immediately discussion went and ticket was immediately booked, though Dad was still not so confident . Again a worse sleep killer with 415AM arrival, 17391 was still better placed he felt. But atleast tickets were there for booking

With a very short trip and less luggage , we planned that we could reach the city bus stand by BMTC service, the train being just 5 mins before the midnight . Dad had second thoughts, but I assured him that it would be fine leaving by 945PM to catch the bus, afterall buses are available till 1030PM regularly with an odd occassion of me spotting it at 2330 hours too while returning from office

A quick dash from office , packed , stuffed, dinner and we left home . The old terminus near our house no longer bustles as majority services terminated and converted , so we had to walk that 7 mins to get to the stop , the trolley dragging on the road . My eyes kept a watch on the BMTC app which showed 2 buses coming up in next 30 mins, with 15 mins gap . Slowly walked to stop, with 5 of us standing at stop as clock ticked 10PM

A white & blue bus aged about 6 came without lED display . My bus showed still 2-3 minutes. It was a the metro feeder service to nearest metro, a km away and probably the last service when he heads to the depot . The next signal, the long lighting, with the new style of number on right hand corner instead of left , read #215H to "Majestic" has arrived

Buy only 2 tickets, said my Mom, as the bus came closer, reminding me of the Sakthi scheme of free travel. The scheme launched by the new state government last June, and everyday I keep scolding at home for the ladies crowd extending into general section on major routes after scheme was launched. Today, I am on the utilising side

The night journey with a cool wind was a bliss and 25 mins into journey we had already entered into KG road leading into the bus stand. Of course , Friday effect wasn't long behind and a slight enterance jam at Majestic for 2-3 minutes, we enter into bus stand at 1035 PM , with app showing 2 more buses coming in the way in next 30 mins

A slow walk into the station, and PF-1 was already emptied with the sleep killer 12658 vacated at 1040PM and PF-1 had gonento sleep. The platform display for our train hadn't come up, so we sat on PF-1 itself to move when the display shows up, which as of now read 16589 on PF-8, incoming 06244 HPT SBC on PF-10. 16507 from Jodhpur arrival and 07340 departure were awaiting PF and PF-8 seemed to be a better option . 16227 Mysore Talaguppa in meantime arrived on PF-9, leaving all 3 YPR bound platforms occupied for next 15-20 mins


The incoming 12678 day express from Ernakulam was on PF-2 with a WAP4 at the helm to leave nextvday morning . In meantime, the SWR "Queen" 16589 Rani Chennamma was announced to depart, followed by 16227 and 16593 to Nanded from PF-6. The boards now came to life indicating PF-8 for 07340 and PF-9 for 16507

With Mail out of sight and no blockage we dediced to take the trolley route to the platform rather than stairs. PF-3 was occupied by the 12607 Lalbagh rake, PF-4 by Danapur special rake that had come.in some time back. 12027 rake was missing , not sure where they sent it so fast by 1110PM.AJNI WAP7 was gearing up for the 16593 express to Nanded , the regular crowd filled to brim

With time still away and PF-8 still being empty , moved out through the PF-7 exit to the Cothas coffee machine for a sip of coffee. LGD WAG-9 in meantime bought in the 07340 from Kengeri end into the platform and the crowd waited


Crowd isn't very high said my Dad. Don't say it , status was in waitlist I replied, as we entered back into PF and walked out way , as time ticked to 1125PM . S-8 was our allocation . Announcement went on for the 16022 Chennai bound Kaveri express to arrive shortly , running ahead of schedule . 16507 pulled into PF-9 at 2325 hrs, the Boeing sound of EMD being a music to ears

Ours was the penultimate trainnon this line towards Hubbali. Friday evening this line is pretty held up with back to back departures , with 17313/14 too terminating at UBL instead of VSG. 2100 BGM, 2150 17314(YPR), 2300 16589, 2350 UBL weekly (YPR) and now 07340 followed dby the 17391 was the line up for the day

Boarded our coach . Rake was 2014 made and looked pretty recently refurbished . We had allocated MB, MB, UB and thought of exchanging , but the LB passengers seemed older than my parents ,so we felt MB we stick to

The coach was filled with the Bangalore youngsters, except for our bay, where the middle aged man was the youngest at 36 !!! Anyway checked the chart and there were only 5 bookings till Davanagere in S-8 with rest everyone bound to Hubbali

We started slightly late at sharp midnight and we put our berths. The time wasn't long to sleep so we had to quickly catch up with small sleep.

The fast smooth gangway run was a rocking to sleep and had a good run with interriment light sleeps. A quick halt go at YPR with few passengers boarding , and a butter smooth run

The musical tone of the announcement start woke me up, as announcement went for the 06546 BJP YPR (via HPT) express to arrive shortly . Time was 225AM and we were standing at ASK , a 2 hr 20 run for the 165 kms with 2 stops

A quick dash and sleep and sometimes later woke up with time at 345AM and we were approaching Holalakere. So time to catch few more winks of sleep, as we would be minimum 15 mins extra sleep

A EMD flew on the opposite direction flying past . Enjoyed the rattling speed of the train as fast as the time ticked as soon we approached Kodanganur at 412AM with 20 kms to go to DVG . Got up to fold the things, waking up my mom silently so as to not disturb others in coach and packing the things .

Slowly and steadily pulled into DVG town and crossing the girder bridge entered into PF-1 of DVG at 425AM, taking 1 hr 55 mins for the ASK DVG section of 160 kms . Got off to have a cup of tea , a total about 150-200 people from our train had deboarded at this station. A 2 hours late running Vijayapura Mangalore express pulled into PF-2 as announcement went on for the YPR UBL weekly express to arrive shortly , indicating 07340 had taken lead over the same enroute , as our train made its move indicating it has completed its work with us


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