Pondicherry to Ooty

edoq

Hi,

we're planning to travel from Pondicherry to Ooty. As I see, there're two options:
1. take a bus to Chennai, then get to 21:00 train that goes to Mettupalayam and connects with the morning toy train from Mettupalayam to Ooty.
2. take a bus to Villupuram and then catch a train from Chennai that stops in Villupuram at 0:40, and take a bus from Coimbatore to Ooty.
first option seems more interesting because of toy train of course, but a bit inconvenient for us - we have to leave Pondicherry much earlier (and we've got only 2 days for that place), then take a 3+ hours bus ride to Chennai (and have to plan much more time for bus delays, etc). And also there's another problem - we managed to get only 2S tickets for the toy train (and also waitlisted first class tickets, WL 4/5/6). I've heard that 2S on this train is much more crowded and also views are not as great as from the first class coach, don't know why (after all, it's the same train).

So what would you recommend? Travelling by the toy train back to Mettupalayam is not an option, I suppose, because we're planning to continue from Ooty via Wayanad to Calicut.
Thanks in advance.

eeboy

Hi
The first option seems better. Travel by Toy Train will be awesome. It ll not be that crowded in 2S. You will definitely enjoy the scenic beauty all the way to Ooty. Its worth it.
In option 2, you can reach Coimbatore and from there you can board the Ooty Bus. But the frequency of buses is limited. Else you can go to Mettupalayam and then board the Ooty bus.

Regards
Arvind

pmvelu

2S will be Crowded to Extremely crowded in week-ends and in season !FC is best to View the scenery as it's the next carriage to the engine and we can have 360 Degree view.

From coimbatore to Ooty, the bus frequency is extremely good and infact getting ooty bus from Mettupalaiyam will be sometimes a bad idea as the bus will be full in Coimbatore itself. [ Coimbatore to Ooty bus passes through mettupalaiyam]

Just thought of adding few info !

Velu

R Murli Dhar

Unless you are hung up on trains only, the best way for you to save time, would be take an overnight bus (sleeper/semi-sleeper) from Pondy to Coimbatore. Leaves late evening Pondy, and arrives early morning at CBE. Stops near the bus stand. You can take a bus to Ooty which leaves nearly every 15 mns. As for the toy train, it is undergoing some difficulties. The buses are comfortable Volvo I think. I used to travel frequently from Cuddalore to Coimbatore last year. Buses certainly have become better I think. As I said, unless you hung up on trains (which I am !) that's the best way. Or if you are hung up on trains, get to Chennai by bus, and take the Nilgiri Express 2671 I think, which connects to the toy train and leaves 2100 Chennai Central I think..Good wishes.

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Dacoit Chief

The reply by R Murli Dhar is spot on! If it is just time you want to save then, the direct overnight bus from Pondy to Coimbatore will be the best solution. This could be even better than the Bus-train-bus combo via Villuparam. There also used to be a direct Pondy to Ooty bus. I think this might exist too, but the busses to Coimbatore will certainly be more comfortable. In any case the Pondy to Ooty bus will go via Coimbatore.

However, travelling in India is not always about saving time! Nothing about option 1 is time-saving but absolutely nothing even gets close to the charm of taking the classical route from Madras to Ooty! Many people rate this as one of their favourite journeys in India! The combo of Nilgiri Express and Steam powered Nilgiri Passenger has been running for well over a 100 years, and was even the choice of the British Raj officials! You leave Chennai at a decent time, have some late dinner on the train, go to sleep and usually wake up to a beautiful hazy sunrise in sleepy Mettupalayam! You get off, get a quick chance to see a bit of small-town India waking up and only have to wander across the platform to see the steam loco being stoked up for a very slow journey up to Ooty! Don't worry about 2S tickets! It's still a lot of fun, and though the views are slightly less restricted in 1st class, the train is so narrow and open on both sides, you still get a wonderful experience!

The whole journey with option 1 can take you maybe 6 more hours than option 2, but could be much much nicer! From Pondy I personally would choose option 2 (or take a bus), but only as I have done the train so many times! If you have not done it, then everyone needs to expereince that at least once!

This is not exactly true! There is a very good frequency of busses from Coimbatore to Ooty. As mentioned above, at peak times it is almost every 15mins.

Besides, you will almost certainly get a seat compared to getting a bus from Mettupalayam! All busses from coimbatore to Ooty stop in Mettupalayam, and take on more passengers. However, there are also a few busses which start in Mettupalayam!

Dacoit Chief

I also think your chances of getting First class WL 4,5,6 are quite high! Maybe one of the rail gurus here can help you more! When are you going?

Even if not all in in your party of 3 does gets it, you should be able to swap around a bit and take turns. The train stops so many times. (Hillgrove, Aderley, Runneymede etc.)

edoq

There're good news - waiting list has already moved, now it's WL2/3/4. We're going on 31th Dec, so it's still a lot of time and a lot of hope. So now I'm becoming more and more inclined to travel by this toy train and not by bus. Thanks everybody for you comments and advices!

Dacoit Chief

No problems! You will get those first class tickets!

You are travelling on 31st December! So that means that you will either have new Years in Villupuram station (or bus), or on the Nilgiri express! In that case I'd probably chose the train, though it won't be much of a party either!

edoq

Oops - I've meant we're travelling on 31st December by the toy train to Ooty, so we'll celebrate New Year in Ooty.

Dacoit Chief

That is good! Ofcourse, the 1st being a holiday can mean the trains are a bit full, but with so much time left to go, you should be able to move up that waiting list!

Just a small correction on something that was said by someone earlier, and which will hopefully clear up any doubt!
It is true that FC is best to view scenerey, but it is actually the carriage furthest from the engine and not next to the engine. The Engine pushes the train up, and so being in First class means you are at the front of the train and so have the view of the track in front of you!

Have a look at this photo:


First class is the first carriage you see (The carriage closest to the photographer) If you are in the first compartment, you have those 4 windows in front of you. Only a train guard (and brake operator) sits on the outdoor bit infront of you! Many many years ago, you could inofficially get chances to ride up there with the guard which of course was the best place to enjoy the scenery from! Unfortunately (at least as far as I am aware) they have long stopped allowing this!

R Murli Dhar

From the calender I note that 1st is a Friday and 31st a Thu.. so I don't think you would have problems with tics on the train. Yes FC is the right coach and you will get it. Unless I am wrong, there is no holidays that period, unless people are wanting to exhaust their holidays pending for them. Good Luck..and Good viewing. And Do let us know how it went! It will help this forum to help others like you.. HAPPY NEW YEAR IN ADVANCE!

Dacoit Chief

Just a word of warning to the OP. I doubt it will change your plans, and I am not even sure of when this will start, but I have just heard that the NMR will not be running on steam for a little while.
More info at:
Nilgiri Mountain Railway out of steam!

edoq

No, it won't change our plans - we're now commited to take this toy train ride by whatever class/locomotive type. But of course it's disappoining a bit - travelling by a real steam train would be more interesting I suppose, and I never ever did this before. So I hope there changes will be postponed till at least 2010, but if not - well, at least there will be the same beautiful scenery.

edoq

By the way, is it officially permitted to make these swaps (i.e. travel with someone's else ticket) or just possible because nobody cares?

R Murli Dhar

The RULE is NO ! But I think the traveller on the toy train should have already had his FC tickets confirmed. And I don't see how a FC holder on this train - given its pre-eminent views - is going to agree to Swap!

If the Swap takes place, and he gets caught, he has to cough up a plenty in penalty, other consequences, and face harassment. Not advisable.

But as I said, his tickets should have been confirmed by now, from what I saw last on the NMR reservations for that day. If he provides his PNR number (printed on the left hand side top of his ticket, I could check it out for him!

Good wishes.