Trip report 12432 NZM-TVC 27-29 Apr 2014 


Arrived at NZM very early around 9:05 AM as we had relatives and friends to see off our family. Was schduled to depart from PF5 and Mangala express to ERS departed in time from PF5 followed by MEMU which was halted in PF5 for 45 mts and crowd was building up. 12432 arrived at 10:37 AM at PF5 with WAP 7 30041 and charts pasted from yard. AK Rajdhani from BCT arrived sharp at 11:00 on PF4 and we departed at 11:05.

We had berths 1-4 in A2 and two in A1. Sacrificed 2 lower berths in A1 7,9 for compact accomodation primarly for track side and Konkan view and took 5 and 6 in A2. Train had 18 coaches, surprisingly BE1 was missing during peak season. Reached Faridabad around 11:30 and waited for 10 mts. Rajdhani from TVC passed us at 11:39 AM, Palwal 11:47, Kosi kalan 12:14, Mathura 12:37. After slowing down at MTJ and entered KOTA line, election special train was waiting to enter from Agra side on the left. I experienced one of the best rides in Mathura-Vadodara section almost entirely during day time. Smooth with no shake, not much of noise and uniform slow down and pickup. At no point it clocked above 125 as per GPS tracked in next bay pax. Lunch at 13:00 Hrs, extremely good one and service.

Train was picking up, Bayana 13:24, Gangapur 14:09 overtook Varanasi exp, Sawai Madhopur 14:44 where we passed an unknown train, Jodhpur express with WDM was on the right track. Ahead of time in Kota and slowed down and entered 15:45 and departed at 15:59 and even tea/snacks were served. Dara at 16:40 and completed Dara pass slowly at 16:50. Nagda 18:28, Ratlam 18:52 hours where we waited for 10 mts and passed Golden temple mail on the left. Dahod at 20:35( waiting for about 15 mts before entering). Godhra 21:30 hrs again slow down for 10 mts, and Vadodara at 21:30 hrs after slowing and waiting outside. AK rajdhani from BCT arrived on PF 3. Departed Vadodara at 21:47 and off to bed.

Woke up at Vasai Road 3:50 am second day. Panvel departed at 5:15 Am. Roha 6:35, Veer 7:27, Chiplun at 8:15 Am where we waited for 10 mts for Ratnagiri-Dadar Pass. Passed Garib Rath, NZM Mangala exp at Ravali road. Sangameshwar at 9:07, where we waited and an unknown exp passed us. Passed Ukshi very slowly it took amost 15 mts to pass the tunnels and derailment area 2 week back. Ukshi 9:30 am, TVC-LTT exp was waiting for us after Ukshi. Ratnagiri at 9:52. Rajapur 10:37 Sawantwadi 11:59 dep. MAO at 12:32, Asnoti 13:55. Karwar at 14:00 Hrs where signal was given and WDP 15504 power failed,staff tried to repair but all in vain and new engine had to come from MAO. WDG 12267 Kaylan based was pressed into service and departed at 15:50 after 110 mts of delay. It was increasing with crossings at next stations. Kumta 16:47 where 12133 crossed us. Murudueshwar 17:25, Udupi 18:35. Mangalore at 19;30 where we waited for 35 mts and departed at 20:05 and dinner time. Kannur at 20:15,QLN at 5:35 and TVC at 6:30 at PF2 where had to wait for 15 mts for the crowd to vanish and take our luggage.

Overall a very good trip we all enjoyed outside views, catering and services were good. Local newspapers here report about bad catering services in Rajdhani and tips payments.

Running time was more as per TT in Mathura - Vadodara. Without waiting time 70 mts could have been saved overall in this section. Our coach A2 was the oldest 10066, A1 11054, A3 143052 ( Rai Bareily coach), A4 13086, AE1 13083 and H1 10012 average coach. RACs were not cleared at all and second day from Sawantwadi slowly it was cleared till Mangalore. WDG pickup from Karwar also superb. I will post pictures and videos shortly. Could not take much of videos and the videos of passing trains which I have taken trains are not known to me.


Please find attached some of the photos, I will keep on adding to this album.

https://plus.google.com/photos/109984747857897221572/albums/6007601787999441569


My younger son had difficulty in sleeping in SUB 6, so we both slept on Berth 1 adjacent to ovens outside and was very warm till midnight. Pantry attender was requesting me if one berth is free and he was quick to bargain with one RAC pax for some money I guess for using our berth 6. Also chart of A2 was Interesting. 

Curtains in all 3A coaches removed except for window curtains. Following were the support staff for this train

- One pantry staff for each coach, total 15
- 8 TTEs and 2 backups - 10 traveled entire journey from NZM to TVC
- 10 bedroll staff
- 8 electrical staff
- 10 cooks
- 2 staff full time in either of the 1A coach end to attend pax
- Backup pantry staff 7 to assist in pantry and supplies
- 3 Managers/ assistant mangers for pantry
- 3 housekeeping persons

AC Buffet car does not have the space to accommodate all the staff, many of them had to sleep on doorways in the nights. Interesting to note that TTEs after duty in each station spent almost the entire day time in Buffet car instead of their allotted seats. With RAC people on board, need to cook almost 1000-1100 meals every time putting them under a tremendous pressure to deliver in time with just one PC for 15-16 passenger coaches. This time also complaints from passengers about water bottles not supplied, butter not supplied for bread, quantity of food ....etc.

Videos are uploaded in the following channel, could not upload all since it is time consuming with HD videos and I am almost running of space quota in you tube. In settings please using HD 720P to see clear videos.

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_lzr47SXnLZGwZ_jC2A85g