Public Transport in Chennai

thejag · Sep 8th, 2009, 20:12

damn... do these counters also allow you to book TN buses going to other destinations? this is nice... but online booking would still be a lot better (even despite the extra service charges)

kshastry · Sep 8th, 2009, 21:29

Guys, thanks for the phone info. However I may not be able to make use of them from outside India. I am looking to go from airport to CMBT and hop-on a Bangalore bound bus on the early morning hours, so that I can reach early, not spending time at arrivals OR in mosquito ridden bus / railway stations. I think and hope that early morning buses always have empty seats to spare.

Looks like nobody yet has a first hand information on early morning deaprtures to Bangalore from CMBT.

thejag · Sep 9th, 2009, 06:40

the link i posted has the timings for TN buses departing to pondi. search for KSRTC on google and you will likely find the schedule for their buses leaving to pondi from CMBT.

look up redbus.in and check the schedules of the private operators. your best bet will be to book a ticket on one of the private operators so you absolutely know you have a seat waiting for you...

thejag · Sep 9th, 2009, 06:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by bsprasad

In that case, SETC also has 4 computerized booking counters across chennai

arent all of their booking counters computerised? last time i was at CMBT the conductors were walking about with hand held bill printers.. same as on buses in blore...

dineshpkm · Sep 9th, 2009, 17:55

6AM,8AM,9.0am three buses available in CMBT to go to bangalore

gaurav1441 · Sep 10th, 2009, 01:08

Well KSRTC allows Online booking of buses. Just login to KSRTC.in and book your journey.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kshastry

Guys, thanks for the phone info. However I may not be able to make use of them from outside India. I am looking to go from airport to CMBT and hop-on a Bangalore bound bus on the early morning hours, so that I can reach early, not spending time at arrivals OR in mosquito ridden bus / railway stations. I think and hope that early morning buses always have empty seats to spare.

Looks like nobody yet has a first hand information on early morning deaprtures to Bangalore from CMBT.

kshastry · Sep 12th, 2009, 23:05

OK, I guess I almost hijacked this thread (which was essentially meant for Chennai transportation) with my dire need to reach Bangalore from Chennai without spending much time (and money) at Chennai (which was a transit point for me).

Flying to Bangalore is an option. But thats not always the cheapest option out there. What is the point of using Chennai then, which was to be used save moolah. A 3000 rupees saved could take you long way in India. Bangalore airport is about 40KM from city center and we need to add about 3 hours to flying time.

I finally concluded that there are NO buses to Bangalroe from midnight (00:00 hours) to early morning hours (5:30 am). I found this out from both TNSETC and KSRTC. I guess it is the same case for Hyderabad, Coimbatore and Trichy.

So, if you are from Chennai, lucky you! If you are from places like BLR, HYD or CMB, it helps to know thing or two about Chennai, which may prove to be good to your pocket.

whitehorseq · Oct 6th, 2009, 10:15

Thanks and very good information

Usually what is the last bus and Train. I reach Chennai airport at 10.30 PM. By the time I come out 11.30 PM. Is there any Bus/Train to central?

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLaneMad

@luckyshibu
sure thing. doesnt hurt to spread the little knowledge that ive gained over my three years here.

@pravman
even if they did, its not of much use since they dont stick to schedule. only thing we can hope fore is more volvo's and from what i hear, a lot more are coming in next year.

Airport- Central/Egmore or Tambaram Railway Stations
The most reliable way to travel from the airport to the main rail stations is to take the local train from right opposite the airport, the train takes 30 minutes from the airport trisulam station to egmore railway station, and another 5 minutes to reach park station (opposite chennai central) . If your train starts at egmore, it will almost definitely stop at tambaram which is closer to the airport and easier to reach. tambaram station is just 15 minutes away by train from the airport (in the opposite direction).

luggage can be a major inconvenience during the travel. the airport station is around a 300m walk from the airport terminal and is across a national highway which has to be crossed using a subway (See map).

While connectivity to outstation trains at egmore and tambaram are not a problem, reaching chennai central is a bit more of a hassle since it lies on a different line. the closest station to central is park station(across the road from central). the walk from park to central is around 400m and once again involves using a subway to cross the road (See map).Note that subways in chennai are not disabled friendly and do not have ramps and can get quite congested during peak times.

The local trains are extremely frequent (~10min) and dependable since they are not affected by traffic, like buses. If you are on a tight schedule especially during peak hours, then trains are definitely the way to go, but be prepared to handle mad crowds and be extra cautious about luggage.

During off peak hours, the buses are a more convenient way to reach central station than a train. the journey takes around 30min in normal traffic (early mornings and late evenings). The most comfortable travel mode between the arport and central are the newly introduced volvo ac buses. The bus starts right outside the terminal and drops you off at the entrance of central station. tickets are priced Rs75 and frequency is around 40minutes. Regular buses are available from the highway just outside the airport. this is one of the major national highway in the state (NH45, better known as Grand Southern Trunk Road) and plenty of buses are available to every corner of the city (including the CMBT bus station). a bus from here to central will cost you Rs4, and if you are lucky you will get an ac volvo to central (route E18) that will cost Rs25, far less than the special airport-central volvo service.

gaurav1441 · Oct 6th, 2009, 14:35

From Tirusulum Railway station (across the road from airport) to Chennai Park(near Chennai Central) the last train is at 00.08 am. The train before this is at 23.13 except sundays when there is a train at 23.43. You can check all schedules at erail.in and click on Chennai Sub-urban.

Bus stop for buses getting into city is far from airpot, but the bus other bus stop is right across the road, you can take those buses to next stop and then again cross the road)Ususlly buses in Public Chennai are hard to get after 10.30pm.

Sep 8th, 2009, 21:29	#62
kshastry Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 155	Guys, thanks for the phone info. However I may not be able to make use of them from outside India. I am looking to go from airport to CMBT and hop-on a Bangalore bound bus on the early morning hours, so that I can reach early, not spending time at arrivals OR in mosquito ridden bus / railway stations. I think and hope that early morning buses always have empty seats to spare. Looks like nobody yet has a first hand information on early morning deaprtures to Bangalore from CMBT. __________________ My travel blog!

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Sep 8th, 2009, 20:12	#61
thejag has arrived Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 842	damn... do these counters also allow you to book TN buses going to other destinations? this is nice... but online booking would still be a lot better (even despite the extra service charges)

Sep 9th, 2009, 06:40	#63
thejag has arrived Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 842	the link i posted has the timings for TN buses departing to pondi. search for KSRTC on google and you will likely find the schedule for their buses leaving to pondi from CMBT. look up redbus.in and check the schedules of the private operators. your best bet will be to book a ticket on one of the private operators so you absolutely know you have a seat waiting for you...

Sep 9th, 2009, 17:55	#65
dineshpkm Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hyderabad-Miyapur Posts: 32	6AM,8AM,9.0am three buses available in CMBT to go to bangalore

Sep 12th, 2009, 23:05	#67
kshastry Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 155	OK, I guess I almost hijacked this thread (which was essentially meant for Chennai transportation) with my dire need to reach Bangalore from Chennai without spending much time (and money) at Chennai (which was a transit point for me). Flying to Bangalore is an option. But thats not always the cheapest option out there. What is the point of using Chennai then, which was to be used save moolah. A 3000 rupees saved could take you long way in India. Bangalore airport is about 40KM from city center and we need to add about 3 hours to flying time. I finally concluded that there are NO buses to Bangalroe from midnight (00:00 hours) to early morning hours (5:30 am). I found this out from both TNSETC and KSRTC. I guess it is the same case for Hyderabad, Coimbatore and Trichy. So, if you are from Chennai, lucky you! If you are from places like BLR, HYD or CMB, it helps to know thing or two about Chennai, which may prove to be good to your pocket.

Oct 6th, 2009, 14:35	#69
gaurav1441 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: New Orleans Posts: 729	From Tirusulum Railway station (across the road from airport) to Chennai Park(near Chennai Central) the last train is at 00.08 am. The train before this is at 23.13 except sundays when there is a train at 23.43. You can check all schedules at erail.in and click on Chennai Sub-urban. Bus stop for buses getting into city is far from airpot, but the bus other bus stop is right across the road, you can take those buses to next stop and then again cross the road)Ususlly buses in Public Chennai are hard to get after 10.30pm.