Travelled in this train from HWH-YPR for the first time. Few observations.
• Train left bang on time from HWH. Immediately after 10 minutes came the bed roll attendant exchanging pleasantries, asking where I was going etc etc. Lot of sweet talk for obvious reasons which I came to know when the trip neared its end.
• There is no pantry car so it does become difficult if you want to buy something. One is at the mercy of vendors who charge more than the prescribed rates. A very small qty of tea & coffee...
more... is sold at Rs 10, bottled water @ Rs 20/,Veg dinner costs Rs 120/.
• Train was delayed due to a signaling system failure at Barang near Bhubaneshwar resulting in a delayed dinner being supplied at 11pm @ BBS !!! People who had placed orders had to be woken up.
• Non stop run between BZA & Renigunta does have its challenges if people want to buy something and nothing is available.
• From Renigunta ,train takes the Renigunta, Puttur, Tiruttani, Arakkonam Byepass, Melpakkam, Walajah Road, Mukundarayapuram , Katpadi route. The intermediate station updated in this site is incorrect and needs to be updated
• Towards the end of the journey comes the ‘TIP’ taking ritual…first comes the bed roll attendant followed by the OBHS staff. This is a menace which railways needs to seriously put an end to.
• Even with LHB coaches, the side berths in 2AC are very narrow, with no charging points. Always good to prefer the bigger berths
Train reached YPR at 10pm, delayed by 6 hours. Probably due to the less slack time, the train was hardly able to makes up for time lost even though it had non-stop run at many places.