Bus/Train from Chennai to Mangalore?

I need to travel from Chennai to Mangalore on the evening of December 25th.

What is the best way to do this? Bus ? Train? Volvo? (I was told there is no direct flight from chennai to Mangalore)

Does anyone know how long this trip would take and how much it would cost?

Thanks
Srini

train would probably be best.

Mangalore Mail train 6001 leaves 8pm arrives next day 1:10pm
this train has what is many people's favorite class and is not available on most routes, unaircondioned first class and the cost is Rs.976

West Coast Express train 2667 leaves 5pm and arrives next day 8:45am. 1st nonAC is not available. Airconditioned 2 tier class costs Rs.1384

both of these trains travel every day.

Thanks for the prompt response Krishnika!!

Srini

Krishnika,

"West Coast Express train 2667 leaves 5pm and arrives next day 8:45am. 1st nonAC is not available. Airconditioned 2 tier class costs Rs.1384"

Do you book these tickets? Are the Airconditioned 2 tier class tickets available? Please let me know.


Thanks
Srini

oops! sorry Krishnika, I did not notice that u are in Spain! So I assume you dont book tickets in India right?

Srini

srini:
all train tickets you cab book online.You can arange to deliver the tickets hotel where you going to stay or any local addres if u have one.

train is best way to go.

radz

I've just checked the availability for those trains.

Train 6001, non-air con First Class (FC) is already RAC2, this means that 2 people need to cancel their journeys for you to get confirmed berths; there is a good chance of that happening.

As long as you can still get RAC2 buy the tickets, if they go up to RAC4 or higher, or if they go to waitlisted (WL), forget about them, there are only 18 FC berths on that train, I would also imagine that most people who have booked for Christmas day travel will not cancel.

Train 2667 has been cancelled, I have no idea why or if this is a permanent arrangement.

Booking Indian Rail tickets from abroad: A Beginner’s Guide.

West Coast Express seems to have 2 different train numbers and train running times.

Train 6627, Chennai 11:00, Mangalore 05:30.

Train 2667, Chennai 17:00, Mangalore 08:45.

Both those pages are from the Southern Railways website/timetable.

I think 2667 is the correct info, it is highly unlikely that Southern Railways would change the timimgs of a train and slow it down. (and lose the revenue from the 'Superfast' charge)

The Indian Railways website says the train has been cancelled, the same website has train 6627 as a completely different train.