The oldest and probably one of the best trains between CSTM and SC. Recently I traveled by this train and I was astounded by the improvements that I have seen.
1) Clean toilets in 3AC
2) Pantry car providing hot meals (literally), i.e. veg/non-veg thali in hot packs (the ones which we usually carry to our offices)
BTW I got a confirmed ticket...
more... in this train as I booked till CHE (Srikakulam Road) and got down at SC (Travel tip). Though it was like shelling out 600 bucks extra (total 1600/- for the ticket), but I didn't mind doing that. Better than special premium train/air travel fares I would say.
The train was 1 hour late till SUR (the train usually gets sidelined near Kurduwadi for 1 hour to let SC-PUNE Shatabdi and VSKP-LTT Exp to pass). The train got sidelined at Hafizpet again for about 15-20 minutes to let MMTS pass. However, the train reached on time to SC, which probably could be attributed to the huge slack that the train has between WADI and SC.
One of the best overnight journey train to Hyderabad from Mumbai, though post-journey I felt that the slack could be reduced and the train could be speeded up to SC.