[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by binaiks

Any Idea what is the Full-form of "LP"? "Long Product" by any chance?

No idea Binai.
That has no relevance to the best of knowledge and source.

[jose_luckose]

Originally Posted by binaiks

Any Idea what is the Full-form of "LP"? "Long Product" by any chance?

It might stand for 'Lastwagen Pullman', given the Daimler-Benz ancestry of Tata vehicles.

Check out this article.

[smashnerd]

Originally Posted by jose_luckose

It might stand for 'Lastwagen Pullman', given the Daimler-Benz ancestry of Tata vehicles.

Check out this article.

I guess that's the meaning of 'LP'. I found out the older long nosed Mercs were of the 'L'-series and when the COE design came the 'P' got added. Tata just followed on with the convention.

[directinjection]

Originally Posted by jose_luckose

It might stand for 'Lastwagen Pullman', given the Daimler-Benz ancestry of Tata vehicles.

Check out this article.

The link doesn't open on my computer. Could you please paste the article? Thanks!

[Transsenger]

Strangely, now Eicher started using "LP / LPO". From Eicher website.

[ranjithrnath]

Seven killed, 15 injured as bus goes up in flames after collision
Erode (TN), Nov 6: Seven passengers were charred to death and 27 others injured, two of them seriously, when a private bus and an aviation fuel laden truck went up in flames after a collision near here in the wee hours of Sunday, Nov 6.

The Coimbatore-bound bus from Bangalore dashed against the truck carrying aviation fuel from behind at Chithode, about 15 km from here, on NH-47, resulting in an instantaneous fire which gutted both vehicles, police said.

Five persons, including two women and a child, were charred to death on the spot. The injured have been rushed to various hospitals at nearby Bhavani, Erode and Coimbatore.

The driver of the bus was among the deceased, police said adding the truck was on its way to Coimbatore airport carrying the aviation fuel.

Bus rams into diesel tanker in Tamil Nadu, 5 killed - Video | The Times of India

[teamveevee]

Originally Posted by ranjithrnath

Seven killed, 15 injured as bus goes up in flames after collision

Again another sleeper bus. Looks like the way these sleeper buses are constructed, there is no chance for people to escape in case of accidents like this. Time to ban Sleeper buses as you see it.

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by teamveevee

Looks like the way these sleeper buses are constructed, there is no chance for people to escape in case of accidents like this.

IMO, the main reasons that make Sleeper buses dangerous for passengers are:
1. Lots of flammable material inside - bed-sheets, window curtains, side curtains, blankets, plastic/PVC linings on the underside of upper berths
2. Often they have split windows - separate, narrow windows for upper and lower berths - makes it difficult for people to jump out. If it's an AC sleeper, the passengers in the lower berth would have a smaller window glass area, making it difficult for them
3. Since luggage space is limited, people tend to leave their bags in the gangway, which makes it difficult to move to safety, in the event of an accident
4. Most often, the rear of the bus is a sealed area, without any provision for an emergency exit. Considering all inter-city buses, KeSRTC's body design that leaves one seat gap at the rear row and a wide, rear-glass is the most practical emergency exit design. Sleeper buses must have something like this mandatory if they were to improve safety of occupants
5. No fire extinguishers. Haven't seen a single bus with a fire extinguisher inside the passenger compartment.
6. Sleeper buses are built taller than regular buses, but the drivers do not consider the fact that these buses hence have a raised CG and make dangerous lane changes - quite dangerous since the chances of the bus toppling are more.

I hope the bus body code has strict provisions for enforcing safety.

[TKMCE]

Another point of concern is the driving patterns/rest periods, some of these long distance drivers get. One member here in this forum posted some rather scary details of the work pattern of on some trips of a leading private operator (although this appears to have been edited out later - at least I cannot seem to find it anymore!).

Why do I say this?? True to form Kerala had an unexpected motor vehicle strike announced for last Sat at the last minute on the previous day. I was due to travel Coimbatore Kochi by bus on that day afternoon. My original choice Supaa Travels 2.15 PM AC bus was not surprisingly cancelled but KeSRTC surprisingly operated their services and I took the 1 PM Trivandrum Super Express. I heard the driver saying that the incoming bus was held up for about 4-5 hours at Walayar due to blocks (which by the way was in the Malayalam papers of that day) and the crew therefore had hardly any rest as they had to start back at the scheduled time.

This was the second such incident on a KESRTC bus i was in. About a couple of years back I got on board on a Guruvayoor Trivandrum Super Fast operated by the Attingal depot and the story was the same. The incoming bus developed some mechanical trouble on the way but after a 4 hour delay was asked to proceed all the way to Guruvayoor. Again crew was hardly given any rest and they had to take the bus back on the return trip without a proper break. In this case the conductor was so concerned ( he was narrating the incident to some fellow KSRTC Staff) that whenever possible he was going to the front and sitting next to the driver to help him keep alert.

Such practices are senseless and will only lead to needless accidents. Luckily flights are better off as they have an enforcable FDTL (flight duty time limitations).

[Ashley2]

This weekend I planned my travel with MSS travels. I was aware they take a longer rote via Mettur(dis 530km ) to reach Palani against the normal route via Tiruchy ( dis 480km). Scheduled departure : 2030

1800: Normally I park the vehicle in office and take auto/share auto to Omni bus stand. But today I thought I can go with my friend in his bike as he goes to anna nagar. So I was delaying to leave from office. By 1830 when we planned to leave, it was raining heavily that it was quite sure that I cannot go in bike. Then I came out and took a share auto to Guindy station.

1900: Since it was already 1900 I was not sure of reaching omni bus stand for right time to take the bus, as there would be heavy traffic in 100ft road in Vadapalani due to rain. So I thought I can go to Perungalathur to board the bus as it will take normally 1 to 1.5 hrs to reach there from departure time ( forgetting that this bus will not come there, as it takes a different route). I was about to take a long “Q” in Guindy railway station to get train ticket. Then it struck me that bus will not come there. The only option left with me was to go omni busstand and if luck strikes I can get bus if not .. I don’t know!!

2025: Rain stopped! with so much tension, skipping my dinner and almost running in that horrible road with a huge bag ( think of the Omni bus stand road during rain if you have visited ) and rain started again.. almost drained in rain reached MSS office and handed over the ticket copy. The guy was looking at the ticket, sorry starring at the ticket for few seconds ( I thought he is reading things) then he asked he enga sir poganum? ( where do you want to go?). Now I almost confirmed that he is puzzling me as the bus have already left. I told I need to go Palani. He said coolly that bus schedule is postponed to 2200 and its yet to be updated in website.

2030: Angry one side happiness other side. I thought I can go and have my dinner as the rain have stopped now. Came to that Krishna Bhavan and was in leisure. While going I saw many buses waiting in “Q” to enter bus stand and to my surprise after 45 min they were in the same place when I came out of hotel. I thought its normal only. In the "Q" itself I located my bus, standing near first platform (near KPN office). Told driver that I will be coming in this bus and so he allowed me to enter. Then started speaking with driver sitting in the bonnet. We were speaking about his carreer as a driver, vehicle feedback operating economics etc etc. Rain started and it was flooding outside.

2300: It took nearly 2 hrs to cross some 150 m. Even this was also ok for me. Remember still it’s raining outside. Somehow bus came to their office and other passengers boarded. It took another 15 min. Bus is full. I went to my seat and since I was very tired I slept even before the bus started moving from office, hoping that all is end.

Midnight 0115: I woke up in half sleep I saw the time.it was 0115.Understood that vehicle was not moving. So just poked outside to know where I was. The bus was standing near the petrol bunk just outside the omni bus stand.
Now I can’t understand the amount of traffic. In half sleep I was calculating when I can reach my home. My guess was around 0930 next morning. Then again went to sleep.

Next day 0730: I woke up and was eager to know where I was. Saw outside. The place was Mettur. I have come only half way all along. Terribly shocked. Cursing my fate and I was thinking what best I could do for the rest of the time. Called my mom told I will be delayed, switched off my mobile took both the seats and again went to sleep.

1130: somehow managed to reach my native. I was the only person to come till Palani in that bus. I came out to get down and saw driver. Apparently he was a single driver. I could see his eyes. It was like an apple. We spoke nothing. Just nodded our head and left.

It took around 15 hrs. against the normal 8 hrs.
The ultimate comedy happened the next day, when I received a mail from redbus, for a feedback survey about my travel.
[COLOR=black] I have nothing to tell. [/COLOR]

I shall post my retrun travel review later!

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by ranjithrnath

Seven killed, 15 injured as bus goes up in flames after collision

Sorry to say this, but I was waiting for this to happen. The Operator was SRM, who sells on the sole USP of "Speed". They sell only because they are fast - usually the last to leave and the first to arrive.

[TKMCE]

Originally Posted by binaiks

Sorry to say this, but I was waiting for this to happen. The Operator was SRM, who sells on the sole USP of "Speed". They sell only because they are fast - usually the last to leave and the first to arrive.

I once (and never will again) took a B9R from TVM to BLR with these guys and reached only till Haripad before it had an accident - the driving did not give any confidence.On the contrary - my last bus trip on the route - from Kovai to Aluva took 4 1/2 hours on KeSRTC but the driving was super safe!!!

[coolclouds]

Originally Posted by binaiks

Sorry to say this, but I was waiting for this to happen. The Operator was SRM, who sells on the sole USP of "Speed". They sell only because they are fast - usually the last to leave and the first to arrive.

I traveled on this same bus on 22nd October from Coimbatore to Bangalore. Though the driver was overtaking through both left and right, it was not uncomfortable.

I also preferred their Kochi-Bangalore service several times as I was able to be at home till 10pm and reach Bangalore before 7am. I do agree that SRM is very fast service but this accident, as per some reports, happened when the lorry braked suddenly. I am not justifying their speed but most of us are not willing to travel in a slow bus. Also remember that Kallada buses involved in several accidents though they are slow.

[AlphaKilo]

Well as per the Dinamalar reports of the tanker driver, he tried to overtake a slow moving truck ahead of him, changed to right lane and then switched to left lane again seeing that there was another vehicle ahead, then he suddenly noticed in his ORVM that there the bus behind him was missing and he heard loud bang(something like a metal tearing off). He then noticed the bus in flames. Acting quickly he drove his tanker away from the spot to a safe distance and after informing the bhavani region police station(seems he first called 100 but no respone then he called 101, i dont know why didnt he call 108), he surrendered at the police station.

Well here goes the version from the vicitms:

The driver's attempt to overtake a fuel tanker on the wrong side proved fatal for him and six passengers in Chithode in Erode district on Sunday.
The bus hit the tanker from behind. In the impact, the aviation turbine fuel from the tanker spilled out on the bus setting it afire immediately and leading to the death of seven persons including the bus driver.
“The driver of our private sleeper coach tried to overtake the tanker on the left and at the same time, the driver of tanker too turned left to give way for the bus. This resulted in the accident and led to the loss of seven lives,” recalls B. Rangarajan, a Chartered accountant who was travelling in the bus from Bangalore to Coimbatore and managed to escape without any injuries.

The Hindu : Cities / Coimbatore : Driver

This quote in the same news says, the bus had emergency exit:

It was the presence of mind of Maheswaran and his friend Bharath, who noticed the hammer near the emergency exit window while boarding the bus, that saved many a lives in the bus. “We noticed the emergency exit and quickly broke the window with the hammer immediately after the accident,” Maheswaran says.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

I do agree that SRM is very fast service but this accident, as per some reports, happened when the lorry braked suddenly. I am not justifying their speed but most of us are not willing to travel in a slow bus. Also remember that Kallada buses involved in several accidents though they are slow.

I don't say the buses should run slowly - but the kind of speed SRM does is surely unwarranted and dangerous. Selling on the sole USP of "Speed" is not at great idea. Bharathi is a good operator who provides good service, but their speed is decent - no overspeeding, hard-braking etc.

Just because they don't have much accidents do not make the operator safe - they are certainly unsafe.