Travel Tracks: 2015

Monday, 17 August 2015

National Sajan : An Epic Bangalore-Mumbai-Bangalore Ride!

A Ride on this babe was long awaited from the moment it was delivered to National Travels. What a color combination this babe has! Black with hints of silver and blue enough to give you a delight! and in the night, just dont ask how it looks! the babe glows <3 ! Two eyes aren`t enough to describe the marvelous scene!

Onward Journey (Bangalore-Mumbai)
So, Sajan(KA51C 4411) had the crew i wanted on it, and the timing and everything else required was just perfect. I was asked to report at Yeshwantpur at 11 pm and was told the bus would come at at 11:20 pm. Voila, the bus was exactly at the boarding point at 11:20pm. Kudos to the time management!
I had a middle row window seat. I Exchanged the seats with the last row window seat. Yes, the last row. The Scania Metrolink is an impressive machine, and sitting at the back or at the front doesnt make any difference! Its as exactly as sitting at the first row. No jerks, vibrations, or heat from the engine whatsoever.
As the bus made way towards Mumbai, it was impressive to feel the torque and the maneuverability of the mammoth coach.The driver was having epic fun overtaking and getting to tricky spots and was just ripping all the way, keeping constant speeds of 95-100 km/hr! The epic suspension and the comfy seats coupled with the perfect cooling made sure i was fast asleep in the last row seat! Yes, the last row seat is just perfect!
I Woke up at around 5am as Rashid bhai took over the wheel. Rashid bhai,with the experience that he has, is a absolute delight to be driven around with him. We stopped for a refuel at around 6:30am near KA-MH Border, where the fuel average was around 3.72kpl and left in around 20 minutes.
As I occupied the cabin seat, watching Rashid bhai drive, each moment was too good to be even described in words! Unmatched control and stability at Rashid bhai`s hands and the way he handles the beast is delightful. After KA25C 9747`s (VRL Volvo MultiAxle)Main driver, Mr Shankar, Rashid is the second driver who i have seen exhibiting such control and stability over such monstrous beasts. Of Course, Rashid bhai has over 22-25 years of driving buses to his credit, which is enough experience to give him absolute confidence!

After a quick breakfast halt near Kolhapur, Where we were joined by SRS Volvo MultiAxle Sleeper and SRS Scania Metrolink too (Both left before us) ,we quickly resumed the smooth and quick drive to Mumbai. Rashid bhai didnt let the speedo come down below 90-95, at times hitting 110 km/hr ! Even with the worst kept roads in MH, the bus nor Rashid bhai budged from their speeds and thanks to his impressive control over the machine, it was speeding smoothly! Of Course, Scania too has their share of credits for the impressive machine(i mean every word of it),the metrolink is a beast!! but it always is the man behind the wheel that decides the drive!
We reached Katraj at around 11:10 am and unloaded passengers and a few boxes of cargo, and departed with a small delay. Quickly making our way through the city, we hit the Mumbai-Pune Expressway!
Oh God, this really was the best EWay ride ever! We Made our way through the highway at speeds in 3 digits , hitting occasional 130km/hr marks and epic maneuvers in the ghats, thanks to the steerable tag axle!
We reached VT at around 3:20 pm, after an amazing ride! Kudos Rashid Bhai!

RETURN LEG, (Mumbai-Bangalore)
We Left the office at around 5:35pm, to take up the 6pm VT-Bangalore Schedule. We picked up pax and left VT at around 6:15pm.Slowly and Steadily, we made our way to Vashi, Where we were joined by Sharma B11R ,also to Bangalore!
Sajan and the Sharma B11R had a fun filled ride all along(atleast for me)! Overtakes, again overtakes, and playing with each other saw us reaching Pune at Around 10:45 pm. Quickly picked up pax, and made way for Dinner at Hotel Natraj, where the B11R again joined us.
We pulled in for refill at BPCL pump next to Natraj and left the place around 12:10 am in the midnight. The bus was at its best as it took the curves and overtook trucks and other buses at the khambatki ghat with unprecedented ease! it was really hard to believe that this was a 14.5m bus! it felt amazing as it took the curves and acclerated beautifully!

In the morning around 4:30am, Rashid bhai again took to the wheels at Dharwad,and was showing his magic again! 105 km/hr constant with this usual epic control and superb overtakes all along!
We reached Haveri at around 8:20am and had breakfast, and left at 9:05 am where the Sharma B11R again plonked in! Left before us but late everywhere!
We reached Bangalore (Anand Rao circle) at exact 11:20 am, and the bus averaged 3.67 kpl!( Yes, 3.67 with all the speeding from here to there and back!)
The Scania showed its true might on the road, exhibiting superb ride comfort, oodles of power to cruise, and a delightful gearbox! It Feels like actual aircraft travel, as it effortlessly snubs the bad roads and variations and only offers a comfortable and pleasant ride to the pax.
Scania have really worked hard on their product, and it reflects on the final side of it. Each and everthing tastefully done, without compromise on safety or quality. Hats off Scania! You have really worked hard and understood the Indian Needs perfectly!
A Superb, memorable and a fantastic BNG-MMB-BNG Ride ever! Will take it again! :)

Saturday, 20 June 2015

UD-Volvo Trial Bus Inaugrated today!

UD Bus, Was Inaugurated today by the Ktaka Transport Minister at the BMTC HQ At Shantinagar today for a trial run on 342F Route.

BMTC has recieved two buses as a part of the trial run, following which they may procure the buses if their performance is satisfactory.(KA01AE 2384,3043)

It shall do 342F , Majestic(KBS) To Sarjapura, and shall be homed at Depot 25 of the BMTC.

The Bus is a 12m, powered by a 230hp, 8lit, 6Cyl Euro4 Diesel Engine. The Specs look real good on paper, however, a ride can tell how it really performs in the city.

This is pitted as an alternative to Corona Citybus, Tata and Ashok Leyland Citybuses, which is intended to have a premium feel while taking care of the costs.The Bus does really give a low-cost feel but not as much as that of the ones of their rivals in the market, It does fel good , with wide interiors, seats and is really spacious.

Lets see if it does make into the BMTC Fleet..

Tuesday, 26 May 2015

Morning Star Scania Ride! First Trip of KA42B 9 !

Morning Star Travels (MST) Recently took 2 more scanias for their superb fleet of buses, One in Pearl yellow and other in Banana Yellow, Registered as KA42B 999 and 9 !
So, As my exams ended, made a plan to do a round trip on KA42B 9, The First Round trip on the Scania!

We Left Anand Rao circle at around 08:50pm and I Occupied my last row seat, as the bus waded through the sucky bangalore traffic! The Bus stopped at Madiwala, where the MST Staff distributed Sweets as this was the first trip of the bus (reason for my travel as well!) The Bus quickly made way out of the city and hit the highway. The bus stopped for a quick 5 minutes bio break/ tea break/ or whatever you choose to call it, as the bus wouldnt stop enroute as this was a no dinner break service.

I Had a few snacks and after a few movies , i went to the cabin after 11:30! Sat for a while, and saw Mr.Sharma on the wheels. I had been with him on their old volvos, and was quite a fan of his driving. He kept the monster at sedate speeds of 85-90 km/hr and was driving the bus in the Manual Mode! Yes, Manual, you need real experience and guts to drive this on Manual mode. quick overtakes, smooth cruising and flawless gearshifts was a absolute delight! We stopped briefly in the journey, where the pairing of this bus (999) came and the crew had a quick chat. The drivers changed and i went back to my seat. The Bus crossed Renigunta at around 2 am and i decided to nap for a while!

Absolutely no jerks whatsoever,vibrations or any unsettling forces at the last row, i literally felt like sitting in the first row seats. The initial scanias that came, had a issue with a little gearbox/turbo noises creeping in, and this was rectified at their service schedules. This bus was just smooth, and had no noises or anything like that! Had observed that in other operator scanias and was happy to see that MST has paid attention to it! The seats were superb as well, had a good back support and to be frank, were the best seats that i came across! I Woke up around 7 am, only to see we were approaching Guntur, The Bus entered the city, dropped passengers and rushed off to Vijayawada. All passengers were dropped off at VJA at Sharp 8 am and we reached their parking at exact 08:50 am! The timing control was perfect, and well, no words about the driving.it was simply marvellous! The Bus averaged around 3.1kpl as it was the first trip of the bus.

Return Journey:

The Bus left the parking at around 08:15 pm and went to the city for its pickup! Left Vijayawada around 08:50pm, thanks to traffic, and made way towards Guntur! The Bus got filled up here and we quickly made way towards Bangalore. The bus had a new driver, and this fellow was one of those few, who are like "let`s get down to business!" kind of a person. The bus was kept in manual, and the guy was literally ripping all the way ! flashy and quick overtakes, no horn use, and the bus was equally sportive as well, responding with instant torque and agility!

The bus stopped for dinner and i literally had to squeeze in my dinner as the break was very very short. Quickly finished dinner, and got on to the bus. the TV was switched off at around 11:30 pm and i decided to sleep.

Somewhere around 1 am, i woke up and thought we are still on 4 lane highways, To my utter shock, we were going through a small highway,overtaking buses, trucks, cars, and no passenger or even me could tell it was like that! NO Jerks or upsetting forces whatsoever! NOTHING! NO JERKS AT ALL!!!!

If this was a Volvo, Passengers would have got up, given the driver a earful, and would have been travelling around 60 kph for sure!
The bus then again was going through a very very rough patch of roads with a lot of uneven surfaces, potholes and stuff, and was only noticed when i saw it out of the windows!,and were cruising at very good speeds instead!The bus is quite a performer, good torque, epic suspension and with the Interior quality and lighting, Yes, THIS FELT LIKE A AIRPLANE!
After this ride, i can officially and say it enough, Scania Rocks! Just cant get enough of the monster!
RIP Volvo :) You can now die in peace and in pieces.

We Were Dropped off at Lalbagh at Sharp 9:40am. Bidding adieu to the friendly and superb crew, i made my way towards my home, hoping to have more of Scania soon!

MST and Scania, You Rock!