[coolclouds]

Yesterday, my brother traveled from Chennai to Kochi by Sona travels Isuzu bus.

The boarding point was in front of Sangita travels, near hotel Buhari Complex, Opp Central RLY STN at 6pm. Upon reaching there, they sent him to Koyambedu in an auto and finally left Koyambedu after 8pm.

The bus went via Krishnagiri and reached Angamaly at 6.45am which was a faster ride compared to those Volvos via Pondy.

The fare was Rs. 950.

[TKMCE]

Originally Posted by binaiks

AFAIK, they have this phone booking facility for this bus. You can call up the conductor to block a seat for you. Please get in touch with the reservation counter at Bangalore to get the crew's number - not sure of this facility, but I vaguely remember reading this somewhere.

Came by this bus- the Thiruvalla super delux yesterday night to Aluva - late by one hour only because of traffic and crew waiting further down nesr Electronic City for a couple of guys who missed the bus at Madiwala but was going al the way to Tiruvalla. Safe driving and courteous crw as usual Still reached Alwaye by 6 AM. Let me try this on the way back - bus is scheduled to leave EKM at 0450 PM and I am going back on a weekday.

Cool Clouds - How can I get the mobile no?? Should I ring the Tiruvalla depot or will the Ekm KSRTC guys help??? I have to board from Alwaye.
Worst comes since I am travelling light, I can take any bus to Trichur and hopefully get the 8 PM or 9 PM Kerala AC Globus from their but their reliability is nowadays dramatically goinhg down. Yesterday (even being a Fri) the BLR Kottayam AC service did not operrate and neither did (I think) the 1930 TCR AC service (the 2200 was showing on the wbesite).

[TKMCE]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Yesterday, my brother traveled from Chennai to Kochi by Sona travels Isuzu bus.

The boarding point was in front of Sangita travels, near hotel Buhari Complex, Opp Central RLY STN at 6pm. Upon reaching there, they sent him to Koyambedu in an auto and finally left Koyambedu after 8pm.

The bus went via Krishnagiri and reached Angamaly at 6.45am which was a faster ride compared to those Volvos via Pondy.

The fare was Rs. 950.

I used to do this route about 10 years back- Chennai- Kochi. Not too man y operators at that time. KPN had a 2x 1 Non Ac, SRM (they used to operate then also ) had a 2 x 2 Non AC and the most reliable was the one (dont remeber the name - I think they wound up) who were handled by Ensign at Jos Junction and used to leave sharp at 4.30 Pm and used to reach around 7 AM. But since all these buses catered to the Coimbatore crowd as well, at that time train was always the better option esp the Trivandrum mail which took 12 hours and was more convenient (no multi axle volvos then). There was only one route - the normal chennai- tambaram- chengelput-villupuram - salem- coimbatore- route (no Pondy or Krishnagiri routes).

Sona travels ia a long established operator based out of Alwaye. They are more professional than most others . . Once when a bus i booked through them got into an accident, they promptly arranged to put hus in a following bus (only for those who booked through Sona) and more importantly were available on phone all the time (the crew of hte bus were clueless and the main bus operator contacts all became inaccessible).

One thing I like is they are also very TRANSPARENT about charging sky high rates in peak dates like after new year /xmas retc (the COK BLR volvos go upto 1400 on Multi Axle) but they show it clearly in their website.

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by TKMCE

Cool Clouds - How can I get the mobile no?? Should I ring the Tiruvalla depot or will the Ekm KSRTC guys help??? I have to board from Alwaye.

You may call Tiruvalla depot (0469 2602945) and ask for the cell number of today's crew.

Originally Posted by TKMCE

I used to do this route about 10 years back- Chennai- Kochi. Not too man y operators at that time. KPN had a 2x 1 Non Ac, SRM (they used to operate then also ) had a 2 x 2 Non AC and the most reliable was the one (dont remeber the name - I think they wound up) who were handled by Ensign at Jos Junction and used to leave sharp at 4.30 Pm and used to reach around 7 AM.

Thanks for reminding all those days.
You may be referring to SMP travels which was operating from Ensigh taxis. Other operators were Ashirwad travels (Jos Jn), Oasis (Warriam Road) and SRM (Operated by Ashirwad)

Also there were some operators R P David etc, long back from Marine Drive.
My first bus travel to Chennai was in a 36 seater Thiruvallur transport corp. bus leaving Ernakulam at 3.30pm and the fare was about Rs. 70 !

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by TKMCE

I can take any bus to Trichur and hopefully get the 8 PM or 9 PM Kerala AC Globus from their but their reliability is nowadays dramatically goinhg down.

Very true... on most weekdays, both the services are cancelled. The buses are showing their age, and the half-dead horses are being flogged more. The TSR-BLR service was one of the most successful AC services of KeSRTC, and the buses used to be kept well, and most importantly - they were punctual.

Originally Posted by TKMCE

Yesterday (even being a Fri) the BLR Kottayam AC service did not operrate and neither did (I think) the 1930 TCR AC service (the 2200 was showing on the wbesite).

The Kottayam service is "on-and-off". They are running with a single bus these days, and hence reservation is not offered ex-Bangalore. The usual alternative bus is a 55 seater Super Express. Same with the 1930 TSR service. I guess the 1830 Kottayam and 1930 TSR are cancelled on alternative days - since the same spare bus is used for both services!

Originally Posted by TKMCE

Once when a bus i booked through them got into an accident, they promptly arranged to put hus in a following bus (only for those who booked through Sona) and more importantly were available on phone all the time (the crew of hte bus were clueless and the main bus operator contacts all became inaccessible).

Who was the operator? AFAIK, Sona handles Greyhound (Ashirwad), KPN and Sharma buses out of EKM now. Sona operates their own Volvos as well (they took over buses of Puzhekadavil and Raj).

[TKMCE]

coolclouds


Thx for the no of Tiruvalla depot

The operator on COK MAA was indeed SMP.They were very prompt at a 4.30 PM start from ENnign but never that particular about the arrival at EKM which was anywhere from 8 AM to 11 AM. KPN only operated briefly. Thiruvalluvar had one service (they had 6 even at those times on TVM MAA which went via Nagercoil, Madurai) and Ashirwad and Oasis also operated. I think Oasis has now become SPS .

The big route at that time was Ernakulam Mumbai - days before nedumbaserry airport, no international flights from Kerala except from Trivandrum Indian Airlines was the monopoly and getting Kochi Mumbai seats needed high powered connections!!! The one daily train was the Jayanthi Janatha (Netravati- now Kurla exp - came along late 80s I think) and Kerala Mumbai bus travel was big business. I used Sharma - they had a connection bus almost immediately from BLR, but others were Indira travels, SB travels, and RP David - later I think it became NS-RPD.
Sharma, National and Southern were the big operators in the BLR-BOM route. There was ofcourse Conti Travels also at that time - to Coimbatore and maybe to Chennai. Kerala SRTC also breifly operated a 2 x 2 push back between Kochi and Chennai in the arly 1990s .


Trivandrum Chennai was the monopoly of TTC (before that it was PTC- Pallavan Transport). Rathi Meena came along and then was the major operator in the route before SRM and NJK came laong. KPN has never operated in the route - I think they have an agreement with Rathimeena. Unlike Chennai Kochi where train is a convenient alternative, Chennai Trivandrum , bus was always a competition because of the early arrival.


Binaiks

The operator was SPS. Sona assisted those of us who booked through them with tickets on Sharma which was following. Sona sells SPS tickets on their website (for their EKM BLR bus) but are not exclusive agents.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by TKMCE

The big route at that time was Ernakulam Mumbai

The big route now is Ernakulam-Hyderabad. Kesineni is the only operator running a "direct" bus. Kallada sends a B7R connecting bus, while the B9R starts off from Coimbatore.

Ernakulam-Chennai route has Kallada (B9R, via Pondy), Parveen (B9R, via Pondy), Kallada (B7R, direct, during weekends only), Sona (Isuzu, via Krishnagiri), KPN (Non-AC, Via Krishnagiri). I think there is one more operator.

Ernakulam-Madurai route has KPN (Non-AC), Kallada (Volvo B7R) and Supaa (iT09).

Ernakulam-Bangalore route sees a lot of unheard operators on sundays... There is one operator (SAM - they are a big tour operator) running Isuzus on Sundays, Shama sends an extra B7R, etc.

[coolclouds]

for info, Supaa upgraded their Cochin-Coimbatore 7am Dep bus to an A/c (Irizar TVS) bus.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

for info, Supaa upgraded their Cochin-Coimbatore 7am Dep bus to an A/c (Irizar TVS) bus.

Yes. The same bus works their Cochin-Madurai service late at night. The bus works as Coimbatore-Cochin-Madurai-Cochin-Coimbatore.

Any idea what is their departure time from CBE towards Madurai? I couldn't get timings anywhere on the internet.

They depart at 2.20pm from CBE towards EKM.

[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

for info, Supaa upgraded their Cochin-Coimbatore 7am Dep bus to an A/c (Irizar TVS) bus.

Is the iT 09 or normal AC coach.
Do you have any pics?

[DWind]

Originally Posted by binaiks

Ernakulam-Chennai route has Kallada (B9R, via Pondy), Parveen (B9R, via Pondy), Kallada (B7R, direct, during weekends only), Sona (Isuzu, via Krishnagiri), KPN (Non-AC, Via Krishnagiri). I think there is one more operator.

Why do they have to operate via pondy? Are these buses registered in Pondy?

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by DWind

Why do they have to operate via pondy? Are these buses registered in Pondy?

Sona is registered in Kerala, don't know about others.

They goes via Pondy only to fill up seats.

[TheARUN]

I've seen them SAM busses too. They are carrying around corporate employees or foreigners during weekdays and now I know that they do trips on the weekend

They must be saving a lot on taxes since they do not have to take permanent permits and can make do with temporary ones

[pypkmsrikanth]

Originally Posted by TKMCE

Trivandrum Chennai was the monopoly of TTC (before that it was PTC- Pallavan Transport). Rathi Meena came along and then was the major operator in the route before SRM and NJK came laong. KPN has never operated in the route - I think they have an agreement with Rathimeena. Unlike Chennai Kochi where train is a convenient alternative, Chennai Trivandrum , bus was always a competition because of the early arrival.

Originally Posted by binaiks

Ernakulam-Chennai route has Kallada (B9R, via Pondy), Parveen (B9R, via Pondy), Kallada (B7R, direct, during weekends only), Sona (Isuzu, via Krishnagiri), KPN (Non-AC, Via Krishnagiri). I think there is one more operator.

SRM has a Thiruvalla - Chennai Multi Axle via Ernakulam.

Originally Posted by binaiks

Ernakulam-Bangalore route sees a lot of unheard operators on sundays... There is one operator (SAM - they are a big tour operator) running Isuzus on Sundays, Shama sends an extra B7R, etc.

The way SAM operates is in case they have any tour pick up at a destination they send their buses as special trips to the destination thereby saving on fuel costs for the empty trip.

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Sona is registered in Kerala, don't know about others.

They goes via Pondy only to fill up seats.

Instead of running two seperate services from Chennai & Pondy to Ernakulam they run one service which goes via Pondy. Parveen used to do this for a long time for their trips to Kodaikanal, Ernakulam etc.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by Ashley2

Is the iT 09 or normal AC coach.
Do you have any pics?

Its an iT09. Have attached a picture (Image courtesy: Dhandapani K, on Picasa).

Originally Posted by DWind

Why do they have to operate via pondy? Are these buses registered in Pondy?

They run via Pondy to fill up their seats.

The Kallada runs a KL-45 bus, Parveen runs a KL-07 and Sona runs a KL-41 bus.

Parveen has a B7R registered with KL-07 mark - this bus makes weekend extra runs.