Buses better than trains?

capt_mahajan

Hate those.

In 1983, I travelled Mumbai to Hyderabad by a 'video coach' with bits of newspaper plugging my ears.

Fortunately, another guy threatened to break their VCR, so they turned down the volume to ear splitting level.

gianni66

I had this problem during an overnight bus trip from Bundi to Ujjain last March; as I am still very nervous when I travel without the availability of a toilet, I did't drink a drop of water during my dinner before leaving and I brought with me... an empty bottle of water to use in case of emergency!

I've been lucky because my sleeper was a "single" one, I had a curtain which could help me "in case of emergency"...

But finally the bus stopped for a while (in the middle of the night and in the middle of nothing) to allow the passengers to "have a rest", and the empty bottle remained empty at the end of the trip!

However... I will travel no more overnight (and alone) by bus, it has been the first and only situation in India in which I felt really far from home!

Aishah

The two worst bus trips I had were 1. From Hubli to Hospet, stuck over the rear axle on excruciatingly potholed roads. 2. Overnight from Pushkar to Jaisalmer - I WILL NEVER DO AN OVERNIGHT BUS TRIP AGAIN - I was in the middle of the very back seat. Could not get comfortable at all - to change from one uncomfortable position to another I lay down on the dirty floor. I alternated these positions so that my neck didn't entirely seize up. There is a No. 3 - This was another overnight from Manali to Dharamsala where the bus broke down for hours and hours in pouring rain. It also leaked where we were sitting. We changed finally to another bus - also leaking.
Personally I like driving my car (2nd to flying!) Also walking takes a lot of beating. You do get tired of bumping around in auto rickshaws but they are great for market shopping where the car can't go.
Enjoyed your post Yogagal! Although not so good for you...

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Sundae

Hi Everyone

I just joined today. What an informative site on India!!!
My friend and I are planning to visit India in mid April to mid May. We are both women and would like to take the train from Mumbai to Goa and from Goa to Kerala. Please tell me, is it safe for the both to travel by train??? And please explain to me which cabin/berth we should book and more or else what it would cost us....

Thank you.

Aishah

Yes, safe. But check out threads on train travel for your general information...

Nick-H

It is just slightly better than doing full blast with their lights off. But only just.

Sure, the more time one spends on Indian roads, the less of a joke they become.

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steven_ber

So that's the 'real' India we keep hearing about.

I'd have chose the floor as well, I can't take being stuck in an uncomfortable position for long periods, a dirty floor can seem like an invitation to relative comfort.

I was so worried on dark roads that I was thinking I was getting old, maybe I am, but I don't think that madness ever really appealed.

Hello Sundae and welcome to indiamike.com

Have a look at the 2 links below, then try to give a little more info, we don't know what kind of comfort you're used to when you travel or what kind of budget you have, extra info often leads to unexpected useful info being offered by many of our members.

One thing is for sure though, you'll need to book trains on the Mumbai-Goa-Kerala route as early as possible, those trains get booked out weeks in advance, especially at weekends.

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Train information.

pmvelu

And another problem I faced always on the overnight Buses ...

After boarding around 8 pm+, able to adjust with the Movie what they play and try to get some sleep around 12 & bus stops for Tea / Other things in the middle of No-where & Especially in Chennai-Trichy Or Chennai - Coimbatore Or Chennai-Tirunelveli Circuits, the tea shop guy gets into the bus and shouts , "Bus will stop for 1/2 an hour. Have Tea /Kaaapppppeeeeeeeee". Almost physically they make sure all get down whether they like it or not. And I always reached the destination with No proper Sleep !. And things gets worser as there will be 2 such stops in the middle of the night for more than 11 hours journey .. Yes I once did chennai -Trivandrum in bus

Sundae

Thank you Steve for that information and all u other guys...

Basically my friend and i would like to travel in comfort on a medium budget between $20 to $50.

And we are gonna travel in mid April so aircin we be good.
What would you recommend???

gianni66

The best options are 2A and 3A classes; both are air-con, the 2A has 4 berths (2 lower and 2 upper) plus 2 side berths (lower and upper), and has curtains, 3A is basically the same but with 6 berths (2 upper, 2 middle and 2 lower) plus the 2 side berths, and there are no curtains.

If you are two persones and prefer to have a little privacy I suggest to you the 2A class, choosing upper and lower side berths, so you will have two seats facing each other with a window on your side during the day and two berths separate by the curtains from the corridor during the night.

Enjoy your trip, Indian trains are a great experience!

Aishah

You will need air/con in April unless more than 40'c is comfortable for you! Classes are 1A, 2A and 3 Tier A/c the last being the cheapest with air conditioning.

Sundae

Thanks Gianni66

Does anyone know what the approximate costs would be to travel from Mumbai to Goa and then Goa to Kerela on 2A class.

gianni66

You can find the fares of evry train using the website www.indianrail.gov.in or also www.erail.in (this gives the fare in USD too).

However, just a quick check gives the following costs:

- Mumbai CST - Goa (Madgaon) 2A 1.111 IRN or 28 USD
- Goa (Madgaon) - Kerala (Eranakulam) 2A 1.186 INR or 30 USD

These fares could be slightly different on different trains if the routes are not the same, but the range of prices is this.

Sundae

Thanks Aishah

How many people does 1A acoommodate???

gianni66

Four or two, depends on the type of compartment. You can ask the "coupè" booking directly at the station, online I don't think it's possible.

1A has a locker in the door and is quite luxury, but it costs almost twice the price of 2A and almost three times the price of 3A.