[binaiks]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Saw this BMTC bus in Jayanagar today. Looked little longer (?) than the old ones though I am not sure.

They'd be as long as the Marcopolos and the TATA buses supplied under JnNURM - they are 12M long.

[smashnerd]

Well, I saw the Peters new A/C bus running the evening schedule to Kannur from Kottayam. The front didn't look like a Kondody or like any Karur bus. Shillibear maybe?

[agspins]

Spotted these JCBL Coaches taken for APSRTC delivery....

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by agspins

Spotted these JCBL Coaches taken for APSRTC delivery....

Those are part of the recently launched "Indra" class of AC buses. They are reportedly a "low-cost" AC service.

[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by agspins

Spotted these JCBL Coaches taken for APSRTC delivery....

These are the part of 100 numbers of AL 12M 225hp ones ordered/delivered. They are operated under the trade name "Indira" (Nice to read such names)

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by Ashley2

They are operated under the trade name "Indira" (Nice to read such names)

A small correction, its "Indra" not "Indira".

[binaiks]

The Globuses of KeSRTC are all finally meeting fate. KeSRTC had bought 20 AC Globuses (ACGL Built bodies on TATA 1616 Chassis - with a Thermoking freezer.. er! Air Conditioner).

These buses ran for about 3 years, and then spend almost a year sunbathing at various depots. These buses were plagued with problems right from day one - leaking roofs, bad ride quality, rattles and so on were the list of troubles. After frequent breakdowns gave the reputation of the service a big hit, and KeSRTC was finally forced to withdraw them from regular service. The services were replaced with 12M "Super Express Air Buses" (again from TATA - these are 1612 Chassis though).

Here are some pics of these buses in their current avatar:







Except the last one, the other two retain the old Driver operated door at the front. The Last bus has two conventional entry/exit doors. They have retained the push back seats, though.

[coolclouds]

Did they cancel all routes? I saw an a/c bus at Trichur bus stand today evening.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by coolclouds

Did they cancel all routes? I saw an a/c bus at Trichur bus stand today evening.

Yes. All routes are cancelled. There are three Globuses still parked at Thrissur - one was being tested today afternoon. It is possible that they might send it on an odd special trip - but there are none on regular service.

[AlphaKilo]

Originally Posted by binaiks

The Globuses of KeSRTC are all finally meeting fate. KeSRTC had bought 20 AC Globuses (ACGL Built bodies on TATA 1616 Chassis - with a Thermoking freezer.. er! Air Conditioner).
Except the last one, the other two retain the old Driver operated door at the front. The Last bus has two conventional entry/exit doors. They have retained the push back seats, though.

Globus has a engine driven freezer correct? If yes, then, this engine has to be more powerful than the normal engines. And now they are running on powerless airconditioners(open windows ), so engine has the full power to its use, i.e. powerful engines? faster driving?reasons for more accidents??

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by AlphaKilo

Globus has a engine driven freezer correct? If yes, then, this engine has to be more powerful than the normal engines. And now they are running on powerless airconditioners(open windows ), so engine has the full power to its use, i.e. powerful engines? faster driving?reasons for more accidents??

Yes - the freezers were main-engine driven. The buses certainly have 160hp at the tap - but the buses were pushed to their limits during their prime age. They were abused to no end - so not very sure if they can even think of causing accidents now.

In another year or so, these buses will undergo another coat of paint, and finally run as Ordinary buses, rotting on menial routes.

[dhandapanik]

ABTx travels, the operator who propelled the 12m AC segment in TN mainly use Prakash and Veera built coaches for their operations. Now ABT has gone in for the backward integration and have come up with 12M AC coaches built by their own body building unit – AE. Perfect example of an operator cum body builder who can transfer customer needs to the drawing board. AE usually does the reconditioning for ABT X coaches. To my surprise one day i saw two 12Ms getting built in AE, Pollachi. Here are some pics of AE built ABT X buses. Both(TN66 C 9055 and 9066) of them are TN registered. So we cannot see these buses in Bangalore any time.

In their Body building unit when it was being built.




Side profile.


Front face


Rear profile. Took this in their yard, so couldn't able to get a clear pic.


Top View of the AE Built ABT X Travels bus.


I'm not sure whether they will continue to build their own 12M ACs in future.

Note: AE(Anaimalai's Engineering) located at Pollachi in Coimbatore District is run by the ABT group. AE is one important body building unit for Coimbatore and nearby districts and is known for their sturdy buses which are run by private stage carriers. You can spot many AE coaches in Coimbatore city as well.

[dhandapanik]

Looks like ARC stopped their operations in the Bangalore bound routes. Any idea when they stopped it? Their Bangalore-Nagercoil route is not getting listed in their website for long time. Now Bangalore-Coimbatore route also not getting listed.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by dhandapanik

Looks like ARC stopped their operations in the Bangalore bound routes. Any idea when they stopped it? Their Bangalore-Nagercoil route is not getting listed in their website for long time. Now Bangalore-Coimbatore route also not getting listed.

Looks like ARC and ABT are partitioning their routes. ARC handles services to Kerala, while ABT is taking care of the services to Karnataka.

[dhandapanik]

Originally Posted by binaiks

Looks like ARC and ABT are partitioning their routes. ARC handles services to Kerala, while ABT is taking care of the services to Karnataka.

I haven't seen any new bus of ARC recently. Last one was the Zedone type design which we spotted in Madurai. Meanwhile ABT got 2 of them built by AE. Still waiting to see some new buses from both these guys. Last new route added by ABT is Coimbatore-Rajapalayam via Madurai.