Better prefer Kaveri over SBC-MAS/MAS-SBC mail during winter season.

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For MAS-SBC, Mail is always punctual.

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MAS -SBC 12657 will never get rescheduled.. so that's the only good train actually (as 16021 has very Early arrival at SBC)

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But nowadays SWR authorities have maintained a spare rake and whenever 12628 is late they arrange that spare rake ensuring 12658 departs on time

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Yes, the tip I'd posted was valid during those times. Now-a-days, KK is very rarely delayed and even if it is, spare rake is deployed (SWR now, unlike before, have a lot of spare ICF coaches from LHBfication of many trains)

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aj kal right time depart hona ke koi bharosa nahi hai. kk rsa is killing it.

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But the last week perfect in time I also came

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hafte me 2 -3 din rt chal jati hai par baki to halat kharaab hai. all depends running of kk

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Yeah KK RSA CAN'T BE TRUSTED

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Why should you go to MAS for going to North India there will surely be a train from SBC/BNC/KJM/YPR to most of the North Indian Cities

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What if you dont get a seat in those trains?

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There is something called as tatkal and premium tatkal quota and also going via MAS attracts unwanted costs

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You think premium tatkal wont attract unwanted cost? You need to pay as much as Rs.600-700 in PT for SBC-MAS. Moreover trains arent daily from all places. So if you urgently want to go, you can use this alternative when you cant wait for the specific weekly.

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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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but how will you request if you are on the other side , u have to bang the door to make the pantry staff open the door , or else how would they listen to your request ??

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I entirely agree with you,Siddharth..very unearthly arrival at Perambur.
To make best utilisation of bedding,I station dep and last station arr is best:)

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Yes of course- or else once train crosses Arakkonam we will be like our station is next and completely lose sleep- I actually oppose even Cantt boarding because that mins of time also you can sleep rather than waiting at Cantt

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theres no issue of TTe waking up- its about your sleep

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I also hit the berth immediately on boarding - before the train starts at around 22-10 itself; but be watchful for your luggage. Sleep hard when the train starts. There might be some disturbance at BNC for addl boarding, if any berths are vacant in you bay. Better to set alarm for getting down at PER at around 03-50.
This train normally trails Kerala exp from JTJ upto KPD. Sometimes, this mail is detained till in JTJ till Kerala exp departure.

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