I've used it to catch Jan Shatabdi and MAS-SRC on a few occasions, but it does cost quite a bit as mail usually ends up going into waitlist before the direct trains from SBC do and we have to resort to Tatkal. :)
Kaveri or YPR-MAS/MYS-MAS/SSPN-MAS are usually better (in ticket availability) if connecting to Howrah bound trains.

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But the buffer would be less if you take Kaveri.

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Mail is early almost everyday except in seasons of fog. So it will be convenient. Now that PT is available, and many people dont prefer that except in few cases when there is very high demand, atleast a portion if not all of TQWL gets cleared. :)

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It's a bit risky, yes. But Kaveri was never late at MAS whenever I traveled ( or may be I got lucky :) ). At least for MAS-SRC and Coromandel, it was more or less a reliable connection. But if the other 3 weeklies are running on the day, then they will always be the easier, less risky options.
Of course, given the mail's sleep-killer run, might as well travel in UR if tickets are not available. There won't be any sleep even if we get a berth. :P

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Yup. First time ever I took this chain, I had to book for mail in PT. Thought I could beat the others and book the first tickets before the price scaled up, but ended up paying 1400 for 2 sleeper tickets. I am not complaining though. I prefer the 3 hour-long early morning RF session in MAS over sleep or direct trains. :)

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