[DigitalOne]

I had a chance to travel from Bengaluru to Chennai by the new KSRTC Airavat 2.0 service last week. The interiors are fabulous. The black faux leather upholstery gives a really luxurious vibe. The leg space, and overhead luggage space has improved. The ride quality was superb.

KSTRC was always way ahead than other state RTCs in terms of the service, and they are maintaining that lead.

[vinuchel]

Made a short trip in KeSRTC Scania multiaxle semi sleeper from Calicut to Trichur. RP664 was the bus doing Mananthavady Trivandrum schedule. Announcement was made in the bus station that the "AC Bus" to Trivandrum had more vacant seats and passengers to Trichur, Kottayam, Trivandrum can approach conductor to get seats. This was on a Friday night and I wondered on why the bus is not full. There was an empty superfast and a fast operating to Ernakulam and Pala and I chose to travel by the Scania. This Scania (RP664) was KeSRTC own scania and was the youngest of the fleet , I guess. Bus left Calicut KeSRTC promptly at 11pm and I was surprised (shocked) to see the ticket at Rs.389 (for a distance of 120km; now got it why the bus was empty). I expected a full rattled ride and poor seats but to my surprise, the seats were refurbished with new headrest clothes and full reclining. The bus was around 40% empty and I chose the LHS seat on second last row and got 2 seats to my disposal. Bus maintenance was superb with very less rattles but sound insulation was not so good.
Reached Trichur at 2:30 am (with a 20 min dinner break in between). Driving was bit rash but superb with timed overtakes and speed was maintained at around 80km max.
No blanket, drinking water was provided (for Rs.389 ticket atleast blanket should be there).

The 6 laned highway development is doing fast progress (around 20% of the road was opened to public)
Travelled on 28.02.2025

[GeeTee TSI]

I had a back to back (and with short notice) travel from Bangalore to Chennai and only KSRTC could wean me away from driving

Onward was a Mysore originating Ambari Dream Class departing from Shantinagar at 23:45 (making it one of the last buses to Chennai I wonder)

Return was the current flagship Airavat 2.0 Semi Sleeper, again Mysore bound departing Koyambedu at 19:44 with Majestic arrival at 03:09


Lit gangway


Tasteful wood trim with ambient lighting


Who doesn't love physical buttons!


Fire suppression system running through the roof line (and the fire extinguisher at a vantage location near the entrance)

[100Kmphormore]

Had a short run from Chitradurga to Bengaluru on the Seabird Volvo 9600 multi axle B11R AC sleeper. Took around 3 hours from Hotel Vaibhav pickup point at 6am on the old KA-MH highway to drop point at Goraguntepalya at 9 am, literally no traffic because he took the flyover from Parle toll upto the signal. He was coasting at around 100 kmph and the cabin was very silent, except the downshift whines (quite loud, especially when slowing down) and the shoosh of the air brakes. The engine was very refined and the AC was sufficient at 24 degrees Celsius. No cabin squeaks or rattles.

The suspension, brakes and seating comfort deserve a separate section. My goodness all 3 were sublime - taking the lower berth was the cherry on top, the extremely short ladders being a real risk of breaking a leg if you are heavily built. The suspension was literally like sitting on a cloud, wafting along, while potholes and the ball shattering rumblers I had experienced on my Duke a month previously were an illusion. Though there indeed was the lean from side to side during overtakes and the front diving at the braking - the brakes were superb! I want them on my Duke now. 100 to 0 in 4 seconds for a 10 ton plus bus with passengers - imagine that. The sitting was spacious enough, the headroom was just adequate for me (5'8) with a soft headrest, something that wasnt there on the VRL or Fareeda bus. Anyone upto 6 feet will have sufficient legroom, its a long berth. I was at L10 out of L15. I was studying for a test that morning and there was no dearth of comfort despite being tired due to lack of sleep and a long day previously.

The disadvantages was you had to ask for the water bottle, it wasnt in the seat despite being advertised so - not a good move at nearly Rs.1230 - quite expensive. The berth lights werent working - pretty sure the charging point wasnt too. The other big one - tracking the bus! It originated from Goa at 7 pm the previous day, an hour late to the heavy rains there, taking the Karwar - Yellapura - Kalghatgi - Hubballi route and corresponding reached my stop at 6 instead of the original 5 am. The driver however was a friendly Kannada speaking chap who updated me patiently inspite of the 10+ calls I had with him, starting at 430 am.

Great experience though, and would love to travel once in the KSRTC Club Class Airavata B11R to compare the experience.