Trip Report
Well a lot of speculations were going on much before I started the journey in this Premium Exp, that how will be the service,
punctuality, food quality etc. I have made couple of inquires in the forum before starting the journey, out of which I didn't receive any concrete responses from the members , apart from the boarding station conflict because someone told me that it starts from BYPL in some entry # before. Then I asked again, where I found mostly replying BNC.
Now...
more...

to start with, I travelled all the way from Bangalore to Howrah, on 9th Jan. Pretty excited, travelling home after 11 long months. Reached BNC at 9.30am. Asked a coolie, from where does the 02509 starts and got to know PF 1A. Since I reached 40 mins early, I decided to have breakfast from a stall in PF1. It was good, Halli Mane was the name if I remember. One thing I observed that this train was an alternative to those people who didn't get confirm ticket in 12246 Duronto, because by the time I finished my breakfast, passengers mostly bound for Howrah and further ahead NJP, Kamakhya were seen in plenty, numerous, though the tickets were overpriced than Duronto. I then slowly strolled my way to PF 1A. No seats were empty. I kept standing till 10.05am when I heard a long hoot of a KJM WDG (I don't remember the series). People from North East were pretty happy to see that their long prolong journey will start soon. Some DEMu's and passenger trains where going to and fro.
I did not expect the coaches to be LHB and it wasn't. In fact, when the rakes arrived, most of the coaches were pretty dirty from outside specially the sleeper ones. Most of the passengers were making calculations on to what will be the starting coach after the loco or where will the AC coaches coupled. When I started to walk to find my coach (S5), I though it would be in the front (the way rake entered in PF), but I found, after S1,S2,S3, there was PC, after which B1,B2,B3,A1,B4, then again S4,S5,S6,S7,S8. Slr's were placed on the either ends. Well no coach numbers were marked barring from S1,S2 and S3. It was after the reservation charts were pasted, when people started running helter skelter to check their respective coaches. I was in S5, berth 1. Straight in front of the door and washroom. My co-passengers were all bound to Kamakhya. But noticeably, some passengers did not turn up which meant out of 8 berths only 4 were travelling from Bangalore and 1 was to board at Chennai (MAS) in my coupe.
I kept my luggage under the seat, came down and waited for the loco to arrive. Took some snaps, then at 10.20, the loco came. It was AJJ WAG-5P (23493). Well that loco was standing on the adjacent track of PF 1A. It went back, changed tracks and came forward again to be coupled with 02509. Shorty after 10.30, the Waggie gave some serious shrill honking and thus the journey embarked. Slowly and steadily, we moved outside the Bangalore Cant. station. And the Chennai Mysore Shatabdi Exp crossed us with a WAP7. I checked the interiors of the coach. Well nothing to say good about it. It was stainy, a bit dirty. The coach I thought was of Duronto because of the interior paints and bottle racks provided in the berths. Charging points were placed on the bays and side lower berths, but it was not working except for some. The lights and fans started working when the power supply device was switched on after sometime but not the charging points. A big mirror was also placed along every bays. Washrooms, needless to say were not maintained but surprisingly they were not dirty also. We stopped at KJM due to some unknown reasons, but again we started. I was wondering in between, what food quality will be there in store. We picked up speed, kicked up dust and went past Whitefield,Devanagonthi etc stations. Since we were at the front side of the coach (near to door), some burning smells and smoke were coming out time to time. The pantry guys where lining up with the crates containing lunch. Shortly after 11.30 we crossed Bangarapet and they started providing the water bottles (only 2 bottles for those travelling to HWH)and serving lunch. It was very basic, a paper plate was given, with 3 aluminium foils covered packets and one roll. I opened and found rice, dal , cauliflower curry and 2 rotis. I asked the guy, is it that much only? He replied, "Sir, abhi train khuli hai, isiliye dopahar ko ye sada khana kha lijiye raat to accha milega" (Reply: "Sir, the train started just now. Have the plain meal for now, we will serve good food acc to booking at Dinner"). I said Ok, and finished my lunch.
In between we crossed the MAS-SBC DD Express with WAP7. At around 12.20, we stopped at JTJ. A guy, came with infrared thermometer (probably) and was constantly making rounds near our coach. Since the doors were locked from inside, I opened them on his request. He came in, went on the other side, got down and checked for the smoke. Some passengers also got down and checked what's the matter. Below the washroom, the smoke was churning out. Many others from the inspection team joined and checked further. I asked a guy who was checking the temperature. He showed my that temperature was 39 Deg. He said if it goes beyond 75-80 Deg, then there may be a problem of binding or somewhat he said like that. The smoke and the burning smell gradually disappeared, prompting the guard and the other officials to start the train again. The inspection guy, then inquired where the train is going upto. I said Kamakhya, and it was a weekly train. I don't know whether the smoke is related to being only weekly train and the parts getting rusted and less maintenance. Well at 12.40, we started again, and we moved out of JTJ. Still somewhere we felt the burning smell coming, but the smoke became less. At 1.50 pm, we reached KPD and we were put in loop line and we stopped at KPD. I thought we may get overtaken by the 12246 which would arrive in another 10-15 mins. But we were stopped for inspection again. This time the guard and one of the LP also joined to check the issue. After much discussion and checking again and again, they felt it was the brake shoe that was instigating the burning smell. I was waiting for 12246 to arrive but instead we were given a starter and we started moving after the LP gave long hoot. Soon after we left KPD, the WAGgie, started to gather speed and whooshed through the VIT campus on either sides of the track.
I was feeling a bit sleepy, so decided to take a nap. When I woke up, I found, we're standing in Vyasarpadi Jiva station, and my cellphone flashed, "Welcome to Vodafone Chennai." Well till that time we're running on time. But soon I realized that MAS,being a terminal station, it won't be so easy to get entry on time. and indeed it was delayed by 1 hour before we entered in MAS. We crawled and stopped before Basin Bridge junction where MAS-TVC Duronto crossed us (Video to be uploaded). We kept standing, meanwhile local trains were coming out from Basin Bridge. After sometime, approach signal was given and we started slowly and steadily. We crossed Basin Bridge and kept changing tracks there after and finally pulled into PF 10 in MAS at 4.50pm (1 hr late). Since charging points were not working, I got down and found some free charging points plugged in the white boxes fixed in the poles. Luckily I got one near my coach door. I dashed in before any one and kept my phone to get charged for at least 10-15mins. Meanwhile passengers at MAS had harrowing time locating the designated coaches, since coach numbers were misssing and reservation charts were pasted on the other side. Some of the passengers were not happy with the Lunch provided, they started feasting on the Idly-Vada combo, sold by a makeshift stall. Some preffered Biriyani. We left MAS at 5.20pm and started moving ahead with an unknown Loco (i was not able to take the pics of the new loco provided from MAS). Just after we crossed Basin Bridge and turned right, the 12841 Super Coromondal Exp came gustling in with a WAP4 only 5 mins late. We crossed SRC-MAS SF Exp a bit later. It was only after Chennai, the TTE arrived finally to check the tickets. The pantry guys came again and started serving tea and gave a packet of Haldiram Bhujia. The tea tasted very good, it was Elaichi tea. I asked for another cup and he was happy to provide one. We soon started to move out of the Chennai outskirts very fast. The Loco then approched Ennore where station was on a curve. There only I peeped out of the window and found the loco was a WAG 7 (blue in color)(Probably BZA WAG 7).
The LP was doing good job, kept up the momentum and dashed forward. It seemed that he was on his way to make up the lost time. Soon after darkness descended but there was no respite in the action from the WAGgie. We crossed Gudur at 7.40 pm and blasted past all the tiny-miny stations and big junctions also. The pantry guy checked in the sheet he had for the Non Veg- Veg opted passenger seat numbers. They both started distributing the dinner packs, at around 8.15 or so. I was not keen on having dinner early. We ravaged through Kavali at 9 pm. At 9.30pm, I opened the dinner pack, this time, it was plain rice, 2 paranthas, mixed dal, a medium sized Chicken and gravy, pickle. Nothing more. The food was warm. I ate it out completely. and since I was in lower berth, and the middle berth on my side was empty, I had the leisure to stretch and sit, till the time I want. People started complaining the washbasin near to the door, is running out of water. But the washroom taps had. BZA was the place where the refilling would be done and it was still good 1.5 hrs away. I put on my headphones started enjoying music, and took a little nap in between. By then it was 11pm, I started to prepare for sleep. As no beddings were provided, luckily I had a bedsheet and a shawl. I spread out the bedsheet on my berth and kept my shawl for covering. I waited for BZA to arrive since I wanted to freshen up before retiring to my lovely cosy bed. At 11.25pm, we made our way on the Krishna bridge. But we were stopped in between. We kept stranded on the bridge for another 10mins which denied us a right time entry to BZA. We started again and pulled in BZA at 11.50 pm (5 mins late is not bad). The station seemed less populated, since it was 12 at night, but still we had passengers boarding and alighting. The water re-filling process was going on as soon as we stopped. After halting for around 10-12 mins, the signal was given to proceed. LP gave a twin tone honk and lurched forward. I came in, freshned up a bit since we had water now running in the all the taps and i went to good night's sleep.
When I woke up, looked at the watch it said 6.20 am. And we were not moving. I got up and tried to peep in through the glass but nothing was visible outside due to mist and fog. I came down at PF only to see, that we are now in VZM. VZM is tech halt. Washrooms were being washed and water were refilled wherein needed. I thought we were running 1hr late, but when I checked TT, I realized we were only 20 mins late. At 6.40 am, the LP played 1-2-1 twin honk, and we started onward journey all the way to BBS. Got freshened up and kept my bedding folded in the berth itself, incase if I feel sleepy. Breakfast was served at 8 am, consisting of 4 bread slices with minimal amount of butter spread on it, 2 pieces of Veg Cutlet, a ketchup sachet and a cup of tea and 2 biscuits. I again asked for another cup of tea which the pantry guy was actually expecting. Having a good breakfast, I decided to check for a working charging point. Knowing that only few are working in my coach, and that also were overbooked, I decided to check in other coaches, S6 didn't have charging points at all, S7 had near the doors that were booked over capacity using a 3-pin plug and an extension spike buster (5 points). I came to my coach and went to S4 where I found a slot empty. It near to the door, the charging point had 3 pin plugged in having 5 slots. 4 slots were booked, 1 was left and I kept my phone on charge. I kept standing there at door for nearly 2 hrs, from 8.30 to 10.15 to have my cell phone fully charged, so that I don't need to wander around again. The train was doing good at sedate pace, belting past the stations like Palasa, Brahmapur. From the door itself, 1st time I enjoyed the majestic view of the Chilka Lake and the sun rising beyond with yellow-reddish combination. It was a sight to watch. (I generally travel in Flights or in Duronto/HWH YPR which does not gives so much clear view of the Chilka lake). We gushed ahead through Khallikhot, Rambha, Chatrapur. At 11am, we reached Khurda Rd and crawled through the station under caution signal. We kept moving ahead towards BBS and at 11.45 we reached BBS outer signal and from there on we slowly entered the station at 11.55am. Passengers kept alighting and boarding as usual.
VSKP WAM4 left with BBS-TPTY SF Express, while NDLS PURI Puroshottam Express arrived headed by WAP4 and having LHB coaches (the red ones like Rajdhani). I purchased a Chicken Biriyani packet (Rs 80), a soft drink bottle from the station just for a change. We slowly started from BBS at 12.15pm and had little bit of parallel racing with the incoming PURI HWH Passenger which was arriving at BBS with ASN WAG7. As the passenger slowed down for it's scheduled halt, we moved ahead and went past the carshed, from where the rakes of BBS NDLS Duronto were pulled in to the platform for it's departure. Saw some WAP4's from SRC, GZB resting there. Soon after we crossed the carshed and picked pace, the pantry guys who had been lining up their stuffs from the time we reached BBS, dished out our last lunch (for HWH passengers), having provided 2 small packs of rice, dal, chicken and curry, pickle and the remaining 1 bottle of water. I was actually not bothered about the water bottle, since on the way I purchased another 2-3 bottles. Plus I still have the Biriyani to be opened. So I was ready for a good heavy lunch. I was still munching on some snacks I had with me. And I started my lunch just before we entered Cuttack Jn. The lunch was simple but good. The biriyani was ordinary though it was nice to taste something different. I ate to my fullest. We crossed the Mahanadi Bridge at good speed. Sorry no videos, since I was busy with my lunch :)
At Barang, we were stopped for 2 mins and greeted by BSL WAP4 let Dhauli Express. We glided past Bhadrak (BHC) at 2.30 pm. We stopped for 1 min at Markona, where the 12245 HWH YPR Duronto rushed in with SRC WAP4. We crossed SORO at 3pm and were greeted by WAP4 let Orissa Sampark Kranti Express. It was nice little rail fanning session and I will upload the videos and pics I have taken throughout the journey. I came back to my berth, kept on enjoying the music as the WAG 7 looked deadly in its approach. By 4.30pm we crossed Hijili, and we reached KGP Outer signal from where 1st we were stopped for clearance and 2nd when we started we crawled our way to KGP. Just after the last curve, where the line from the other sides meet, I was expecting the SER KING 12841 to cross us and here it was, SRC WAP4 moving out of KGP with Chennai Bound Coromondal Express. 02509 slowly moved in and became a bit more slow and then actually slowing so much for few passengers to get down and some local Howrah bound passengers to get in. Though it was not good move for the passengers who boarded from KGP, taking 02509 as normal express. They got a good tongue lashing from the staffs and pantry guys who were lining up the evening snacks for the passengers. Those new bunch of passengers started inquiring about the train, we all replied in same mojo, "Premium express". they all were literally taken aback, since the train did not had any unreserved coaches and there was no way they could get down unless the train stops in between somewhere, which was less likely. We left out KGP station area keeping in slow pace around 5.05 - 5.10. Next I saw something that was I not expecting, on the adjacent track, 1 LGD P4,1GZB P7,1SRC P4 were coupled to each other. I was little too slow to react and capture the snap. Then came the evening snacks, comprising of tea, haldiram bhujia pack and a small kachori. As usual I got a 2nd cup of tea. The Waggie was on it's rampaging best, it dazzled and glared past the stations. It seemed that it glared in the eyes of the passengers of the stations it romped saying "listen I might be a waggie but I can turn into a baddie, so just stay out of my way", literally rocking and rolling and hurtling down towards SRC and HWH. We flew past Bagnan, Panksura etc.Most of the passengers were happy that w'll reach HWH on time or before, but I being a seasoned traveller in this sector, knew, how fast the train may go or arrive before time at SRC, the officials won't give it clearance. and exactly it happened. We were doing good till Mecheda, and just after crossing Mecheda, there was a sharp decline in the speed. We crossed the Kolaghat bridge at real slow pace.
The Waggie kept pushing the brakes, and it resulted in a full stop. We were stranded. The sun went down. It was dark. It was around 6pm. The LP got approach signal few minutes later, but we were forced to move slowly, couple of EMU's crossed and overtook us. 1-2 passenger trains also crossed us though I was not able to see the names due to utter darkness. We crossed Kulgachia slowly only to realise that a goods train was ahead of us resulting us to slow down. Again we picked up some pace, and started to move ahead. I think we were moving along the reverse line and before SRC, at Abada, the Digha Hwh Duronto overtook us with SRC WAP4 and went ahead in speed. We also somewhat regained our momentum and kept pushing and just before the curve at SRC and at a distant signal I saw we're clear through. The LP notched up more and soon I saw the tail lights of the Duronto flashing red. I was itching to get the video of the overtake but since the speed was actually pretty more to keep balance holding the phone in one hand. The Duronto was dashed aside with the dazzling pace of 02509 and we stormed through SRC and I was more sure that the Duronto won't charge behind us the by the view in adjoining tracks were the rakes of HWH-CSTM Mail via Nagpur was taken towards Howrah for its journey at 8.15pm. It was around 6.50pm. We raced ahead Rajaramtala. A WDS Deemer was seen moving towards SRC with the empty rake of 12704 SC-HWH Falaknuma Exp. It was quite interesting that after SRC clearance we're not stopped in between at either Rajaramtala or Dasnagar or Tikiapara shed. We went nonstop but slowed down when we were changing tracks to get in the old complex in HWH. We snaked through our way from the Southern side to Eastern side and we're put in PF 9 in HWH. We pulled in at HWH at 7.10pm sharp, 40 mins late. Though being a terminal station both at MAS and HWH we were delayed. Most of the passengers got down at HWH and the other's remained to continue with their onward journey. I gave Rs. 20 tip to the pantry guy and got down.
HOME SWEET HOME @ WInter
TIPS:-
1. If you are travelling in SL, carry own bedding.
2. Carry newspapers, the SL coaches are not that clean.
3. Don't shriek, if you see bugs and insects, its quite normal.
4. Preferabbly carry own food for the 1st day of Journey. A good option Saravana at MAS station.
5. If you are lucky you might get your charging points working in SL. for those in 3A,2A, no need of worrying. Charging points works throughout and also you get bedding.
6. Don't know much about the food served in AC. May be you can get more better food.
7. Try some snacks in MAS and BBS. You wont get disappointed.
8. If you are expecting LHB Rajdhani Coaches for this premium, you would need to wait, since this train is still in experimental run till Jan 23rd after which it will get regularised if needed.
Observation and Pros and Cons:-
1. Few things that needs to be improved. Actually there are much more areas to improve. Through out the journey, I felt this train is a hit among the travellers. Passengers dont mind paying twice the fare to get a confirm ticket, but services needs to be improved to a massive margin, atleast if I compare it the Duronto SL class.
* Bedding should be provided in all class.
* Food quality should be more better. There is no reason saying that we are serving plain meals due to the departure time is at 10.15am and did not have the requirements fulfilled.
* Snack quality and quantity should be increased atleast to make it worth the ticket price.
* Rakes, NFR should consider providing good conditioned coaches for such a long journey and term it as "Premium Exp"
* I am Ok with TT provided, but perhaps I feel it can be speeded up more. The avg speed shown in website is 61KPh, that can be raised till 65KPh. Also priority should also be given to Premium as it is being provided to Duronto since it serves as an alternative. Stops are less thats good but travel time can be curbed down a bit by 2 hours or so.
* Maintenance is problem in IR due to zone conflicts, but that needs to sorted out to keep coaches clean.
* The train maintains a good time table for passengers bound for HWH and KYQ/GHY. Loco link, I believe will be finalised later once it gets regularised. For the time being WAG's / WAM's , are doing good.