BANGALORE EXP : Trivandrum – Bangalore

After a long time gap I got to travel in the sleeper class by train from Trivandrum to Bangalore. It is the relatively new train, “Kochuveli Bangalore train, “BANGALORE EXP”. From the two trips I made from Tvm, it has maintained very good timings, reaching K.R puram by 8:30.

My love for train travel, the convenient timing, comfort, the travel cost all much more prompted me to take talkal ticket.

So, why are folks like me fetish over traveling by train? Well each one would fall in for some form of idiocy and I too have my share of fancies for this heavy metal engine- is it heavy clanking sound, the big size. There is a personal side, for it a good way to meet and see a cross section of travelers and strangers. Well, who know when you get a warm seat and a promised exciting trip!!. Well such things happen in reel life and not in real life.

Traveling by bus from B’lore to Trivandrum takes more than 15 hrs. There is only one dinner break + loo break at one of that lousy, overcharged hotel. Adding to the agony, one has to sit tight in that small space all through the humpty-dumpty ride. Sometimes, I wonder why these hotels can’t maintain a basic clean toilet, or why the money fleecing pvt bus operators suggest them to do so. Answer could be that we Indian’s don’t bother abt these basic amenities or just all folks like me grumble and forget about it when the trip is over.

B’lore- Trivandrum bus fare is hitting the roof. For Volvo its Rs 800 and going proposed petrol price hike, this is even to pinch more travelers. But just compare with the train rate. It’s around Rs 320 odd for the second sleeper and only Rs 850 odd for the Second A/c. Though I haven’t traveled by A/C in train, now I feel it a thousand times better than traveling in these buses where I’m forced to sit through those lousy movies and glaring speakers shouting over my head.

Another major convenience for rail travel is the online booking facility. This trip was booked by my lady and I just had to flash an Id card with the print out of the ticket to the TTR.

But again, train tickets are always booked well in advance and lazy fellow like me hardly stand a chance to reserve my seats in advance. Another drawback with the train is the timing. Only this train comes close to the bus timing, but what about the regular Island Express. It takes an atrociously long time to reach Trivandrum. Once u board the train by night by 9:30, it takes the most part of the following day to reach out. Sadly so, its like Hobson’s choice to go with the bus and go through the long ordeal of controlled eating and tight seating.

Finally, with no steering wheel to hold onto, no pedals to jam to the floor, what can I think of and do while in my long overnight trip. Can u give me some thoughts to work on my idle mind ……….

6316: KOCHUVELI(KCVL) – BANGALORE CANT(BNC) – BANGALORE EXP

Station stops from Trivandrum

KCVL KOCHUVELI – 16:00

QLN KOLLAM JN 17:05 17:10

ALLP ALLEPPEY 18:42 18:45

ERS ERANAKULAM JN 20:25 20:35

TCR THRISUR 22:00 22:05

PGT PALAKKAD 23:40 23:45

CBE COIMBATORE JN 00:55 01:00

ED ERODE JN 02:40 02:45

SA SALEM JN 03:35 03:40

SBC BANGALORE CY JN 08:35 –