Hi guys! I recently travelled by 22203 VSKP-SC Duronto on 18th October,'12 for attending a quiz competition at Hyderabad.
I would like to share my experiences with you all..
So,I would like to first add that my school said that it would take care of the bookings,but backed out at the last minute as it was the Dussehra season and confirmed tickets were not available.So,they asked my father to take up the responsibility ( which naturally came down to me ) for booking the tickets.So, around 10 days before,WL tickets were booked for the onward journey from VSKP to SC for the Duronto by 3A for 18th October and the return journey tickets, also in WL ,were again booked for the Duronto by 2A for 20th October.
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The next few days were spent fervently hoping for the tickets to confirm.However,I was sure that the onward tickets by 3A would surely confirm as the train had around 9 3A coaches.But,the confirmation possibilities for the return journey were bleak as it was by 2A and the WL was in the high 50's.
As I had guessed, the tickets for the onward journey got confirmed within a week but the tickets for the return journey had not even reached RAC.So,my father planned to apply for EQ with recommendations from a local MLA and a scientist from ISRO.
Meanwhile, the preparations for the quiz were going on very well,and having been exempted from our Term-II Examinations gave us a little more responsibility to perform well.However,the whole plan was in jeopardy as the return tickets were not confirmed yet.
On the day of our onward journey,we reached the station by 2200 hrs. and found the Duronto to be berthed on PF #1.We boarded the B4 coach,in which we got 2 Middle and two upper berths.The train started bang on time at 2230 hrs. and soon enough everybody went to sleep.
The coach has a nice exterior and a decent enough interior to pass the night in.I thought that 2A and 3A coaches were usually fine in trains like Godavari and Chennai Mail-Coro,so that would not be a problem.But once we started touching speed around 110 kph,I understood what everyone was talking about.It was just like travelling in a Sleeper coach,as the coach was shaking vigorously. My teacher's daughter almost fell due to the jerks when she went to the washroom.
However I have to say,the staff were courteous, the linen clean and the coaches were sprayed with air fresheners and everything was neat and tidy.
The next morning when I woke up at 0730 hrs., we were approaching the suburbs of Hyderabad.At around 0750,the train pulled into Maula Ali,where it was detained for around 10-15 min.and then was given clearance to slowly proceed to SC. It overtook the Garibrath just about 2-3 kms. before the station and finally pulled into PF #9 at sharp 0830 hrs., a full 30 min. behind schedule.
We proceeded to Jubilee Hills,where our quiz was held,and then went for shopping at Inorbit Mall at Hitech City from Secunderabad by the MMTS.
The MMTS,I have to say is always full and it would help if the now erratic frequency would be increased.The trains are very cheap,around Rs.2/- to almost anywhere from SC and the First Class ticket is also very cheap,compared to the autos.The journey by the empty First Class in the locals was an interesting experience,as the same coach consisted of the jampacked Ladies' and General sections,divided by iron barriers.
Our return journey,despite the EQ application could not confirm and we were forced to stay another day in Hyderabad and board the Indra Special Service (Fare=Rs.1150/-) by APSRTC on 21st October at MGBS.
Overall, it was a memorable experience as my team got State 2nd in the quiz and went shopping.
P.S. Now I understand why McDonald's is so popular,the prices are very very reasonable..!!