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! :)
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! :)
