TRIP REPORT
Train: Chennai- Trivandrum Special.
IRCTC was a big failure day before yesterday, hence couldn't get Tatkal. Which left me and Gautham only one option. Try General in this special. Rake was there in PF 11 of MAS when i reached station around 4.30pm, and thankfully, no one was there in coach. By the mean time, 12685 was shunted to PF 10, and people were crowding in the train like anything. Once 12685 was tight packed, few people realized that, people upto PGT can try the special, and soon it also started...
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getting crowded. By the time train departed from MAS, 10min late, it was fully packed. Thankfully, me and Gautham were in single seater, so no much issue. The link allotted was Kalyan WAG5.
Not sure what is the MPS of WAG5, but it was really performing in bad way. Area where WAP4, and WAP7 goes in flat 110, this was struggling in 80-90kmph as per speedometer app. Till Salem, there was one freight overtake and also overtake of Yelagiri before JTJ. It was the first time, i was noticing, huge amount of freight crossing. In every 10 min, we will be spotting one freight. When we reached Salem, the train was already 40min late and over great 12623, Trivandrum mail is now just 35km behind ours. Once frieght crossing ended, then express started flowing in. Kerala,Niligiri, Mysore expres, dadar express, chenmuzhi,rajkot express, Managlore mail, Alleppey express, Island, Yeswantpur, Trivadrum Mail, Managalore Chennai express, cheran, shalimar, tvc mas sf..
By the time, it reached CBE, it was almost running on time of Trivandrum mail, and TVC mail was in Coimbatore north, when we were in CBE. Since common people dont notice the number, seeing Chennai TVC board, people started flooding in. Few passengers might had bad luck, since it special doesn't stop in angamaly, Tripunitara, Chenaganesry,Mavelikara, varkala. It reached Palakkad at 3.55AM. 30 min late. There i ended my trip, while Gautham continued till TVC. As per him, train reached TVC bang on time.
The worse part was, Toilet was not cleaned and water was not there in general