[sbkumar]

Originally Posted by ampere

I only hope they are punctual. Esp given the fact if one is travelling from Mysore, hope the timing is spot. Else the service can be rendered quite in-effective.

True, you need to give yourself some buffer and plan properly if you need to use this service. For some unknown reason I used to feel tensed invariably every time I took the bus to BIAL instead of taxi even though I start a little early and I know I have some buffer :-)

On a related note, it seems KSTRC has revamped their site since the time I visited them last. The search/listing seems to have been improved. I hope other state services ( especially SETC - TN) learn from them and improve both their website as well as the buses and services. I for one always found the drivers and conductors of SETC/KSRTC services quite friendly unlike the private operators but the state of the buses and the travel time is what keeping me away from them.

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by ampere

I only hope they are punctual. Esp given the fact if one is travelling from Mysore, hope the timing is spot. Else the service can be rendered quite in-effective.

Originally Posted by sbkumar

True, you need to give yourself some buffer and plan properly if you need to use this service.

+1

Like any means of transport to the airport, the traveller must keep sufficient buffer time.

On the trip to Mysore from BIAL, the start time for the services can be aligned to the arrival time of flights.

[TheARUN]

The Mysore-Bangalore Air Bus proposal is very risky to patronise, nobody knows how much time it would take from Mysore to Bangalore. This is one stretch where traffic gets thrown off gear very often. For all villages in the area, the road is their arena, any agitation, they block the highway, accidents are galore and lead to huge pile-ups. Come festival time and you have bumper-to-bumper traffic for 139 kilometres, don't believe me, check out tomorrow evening :-)

[manduvindupondu]

Travelled from Hyderabad to Vijayawada in Morning Star travels in bus no. Ap 07 TT 07 and service no 10a. It was one of the worst RASH driving I experienced till date. Loud honking, random lane cuts, sudden braking , switching on lights during travel and other Non sense. I tried reaching their Guntur contact no and they replied indifferently. Pretty bad experince and I could not sleep for even 1 hour.

[raju2512]

Traveled from Trichy to Chennai yesterday (18th) afternoon by MJT travels. I am hearing the name for the first time but went ahead and booked thro' MakeMyTrip @ Rs700/- for non Volvo AC bus.

The scheduled dep was 12.10 pm but the bus reached Trichy from Madurai at 12.25 pm. After a longish halt and some confusion over bookings , left at 1 pm and reached Perungalathur at 5.45 pm (wth 20 min break)

I was surprised that an AL bus could do such speeds covering the distance in 4hr 15 min which Volvos do comfortably. The bus was good, no rattles, AC was OK and seat comfortable.

Positives:

Neat and clean, very little noise in the cabin - ride quality was equivalent to Volvo
Well driven - no sudden braking, no excessive use of horn

Negatives:

Not so courteous staff at Trichy office
Stopped at a nondescript dirty place for the break
Rs.700/ fare which is same or higher than normal Volvo fare

If a AL bus can run as good as a Volvo (ride comfort, time), why are these buses not so popular considering they cost much less that Volvo

[srishiva]

Originally Posted by TheARUN

The Mysore-Bangalore Air Bus proposal is very risky to patronise, nobody knows how much time it would take from Mysore to Bangalore. This is one stretch where traffic gets thrown off gear very often. For all villages in the area, the road is their arena, any agitation, they block the highway, accidents are galore and lead to huge pile-ups. Come festival time and you have bumper-to-bumper traffic for 139 kilometres, don't believe me, check out tomorrow evening :-)

The conditions will be same for a Bus or a Car !
However, not sure what study KSRTC did to see if sufficient passengers exist on this route.

[Dry Ice]

Originally Posted by raju2512

If a AL bus can run as good as a Volvo (ride comfort, time), why are these buses not so popular considering they cost much less that Volvo

Got to do with the perception IMO. Customers are ready to pay a premium for a Volvo and that's what the operators are capitalizing on. Experts on the thread can explain further.

I think there was another thread on how Volvo has managed to become synonymous with 'an AC bus' in India. BTW, did you notice if there was any Volvo written on the one you traveled in?

[raju2512]

Originally Posted by Dry Ice

BTW, did you notice if there was any Volvo written on the one you traveled in?

No.

There were no stickers on the bus anywhere mentioning Volvo. Even the on line booking site (both MMT and the operators website) didn't mention Volvo and simply said 2+2 AC coach.

By the way, I was wondering why these buses are not popular with operators considering they cost much less

[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by raju2512

... I am hearing the name for the first time but went ahead and booked thro' MakeMyTrip @ Rs700/- for non Volvo AC bus.....
If a AL bus can run as good as a Volvo (ride comfort, time), why are these buses not so popular considering they cost much less that Volvo

MJT is owned by former TN transport minister's family in his brother's name - Muthu Jeyam.
At any point of time you will have tickets to Chennai in their office, as they run buses in multiple service half an hour gap.

This could be 12M CRS buses, which are equally popular in the budget segment, may be its not identified properly.
VRL owns around 120 of these buses apart from other 12M models.

[BusyBoyKK]

Traveled HYD to Chennai by Kesineni and return by Bharati. Volvo B11R both ways. Convenient.

While going to Chennai, we were made to fill up our name and contact details. Apparently they have to give the passengers list at the TN border check post (which they did give). Anyone knows more details why the need to give the list of passengers while entering TN border? This was not the case 2 weeks ago when I traveled by the same bus and not in the return journey too.

[S5157]

Originally Posted by BusyBoyKK

Traveled HYD to Chennai by Kesineni and return by Bharati. Volvo B11R both ways. Convenient.

While going to Chennai, we were made to fill up our name and contact details. Apparently they have to give the passengers list at the TN border check post (which they did give). Anyone knows more details why the need to give the list of passengers while entering TN border? This was not the case 2 weeks ago when I traveled by the same bus and not in the return journey too.

I remember this practice was followed 12 years ago when I use to travel between Bangalore and Kerala in Push back private operator buses. The helper use to come with a chart clipped on to a card board and ask every one to enter the name and details.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by BusyBoyKK

Traveled HYD to Chennai by Kesineni and return by Bharati. Volvo B11R both ways. Convenient.

I am afraid, those were B9Rs. As of now the only B11R operating to Chennai is of Thunaivan Travels (Chennai-Palani). Other than this, there are B11Rs of Kesineni running from Hyderabad to Madurai/Coimbatore/Ernakulam/Trivandrum, and Kallada B11Rs operating Hyderabad-Ernakulam and Bangalore-Kollam. Bharathi hasn't taken any B11Rs.

In any case, the B11R is not selling much - due to a lot of reports of failures (mainly suspension related).

[julupani]

Originally Posted by binaiks

I am afraid, those were B9Rs. As of now the only B11R operating to Chennai is of Thunaivan Travels (Chennai-Palani). Other than this, there are B11Rs of Kesineni running from Hyderabad to Madurai/Coimbatore/Ernakulam/Trivandrum, and Kallada B11Rs operating Hyderabad-Ernakulam and Bangalore-Kollam. Bharathi hasn't taken any B11Rs.

In any case, the B11R is not selling much - due to a lot of reports of failures (mainly suspension related).

Kesineni also operates B11Rs to Ahmedabad and Mumbai, apart from a Bangalore-Mumbai B11R. They have now gone up 18 B11Rs in their fleet.

Have Volvo even managed to sell 50 B11Rs till now?? Which operator is facing suspension issues??

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by julupani

Have Volvo even managed to sell 50 B11Rs till now?? Which operator is facing suspension issues??

Both kallada and kesineni had suspension failures within one week of introducing the bus. Both the operators faced similar issues again with their second lot as well. To compound their woes the bus gives lower mileage.

[julupani]

Originally Posted by binaiks

Both kallada and kesineni had suspension failures within one week of introducing the bus. Both the operators faced similar issues again with their second lot as well. To compound their woes the bus gives lower mileage.

Thanks for the info.

The lower mileage I think was to be expected considering the 10.8L capacity of the D11A engine compared to the D9B's 9.4L. I think using the 380hp variant of the D9B engine may have proved a better choice.

I am sure Volvo will quickly get on top of the suspension issue.