SUR-PUNE Stretch taken with Shatabdi example!!! Must say quite creative in comparison!!!
Average run of M/E/SF for SUR-Mumbai accounts to 8-9 hrs!!!
Plus cushion @ SUR....if u make it even 8.5 hrs, its gonna be 20.5 hrs and definitely more!!!
I still reinstate:- Will this 1 or 2 hrs block will attract volvo takers? Train already do exist with slight same schedule!!!
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if PUNE-SBC stretch bexome fully double, its possible to run train with 19 hrs or even faster schedule..but again it will impact less on road-riders, asthey fancy some other ideas!!
& all reasons arnt new ones to decline passenger traffic by 8%!!

nothing wrong in my comparisions. If shatabdi can cover SUR-PUNE in 3 hr 10 min, why i cannot expect SF to cover in 3hr 30 min? PUNE-DR fastest train is not shatabdi - it is just a SF.
If Garib Rath can run with Rajdhani timings and speed (MAS-DELHI), what is wrong in my expecting SF running in speed of shatabdi?
Reasons for non-running is not all these. many buses are owned by powerful people and they take care of railway personnel suitably. Mumbai-Bangalore is like a golden route. More than 100 buses...
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are running daily. rlys do not find a proper TT for a train means something seriously wrong in planning.
similar is the case of Mangalore-Bangalore route. Daily 250-300 buses are running, but rlys is running just one ONT and one tri-weekly day time snail express. rlys are claiming that no body is preferring the day time train and concluded that no patronage for train. definitely railways are properly taken care of by concerned beneficiaries. else, these kind of conclusions will not come.

Kindly open other blog for regional centric comments which arnt new & hence arnt linked with last month 8% traffic!!
When u gave example of current train (SUR-YPR) then keep schedule of current train of M/E/SF Category along with sleeper combo!!!
For CSTM-SBC, i simply can make irrational schedule with fastest breakups of mini fragment/stations which dont consider slack neither other train schedule cross-over!!
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u hav anything specific to add for 8% passenger traffic decline..then most welcome..else keep on fragmenting schedules of non-comparable trains/fragments!! Frankly, this way, i could make faster train till SBC...LTT-WADI (9hrs--LTT-SC Duronto) & WADI/Sedam (9/9:40 hrs: SUR-YPR, Raj-SBC)..18-19 hrs!! But Duronto schedule is different class!!
Plus heavy private bus operagor traffic exists for Punjab & Delhi connection...here no such nexus exists..South seems so corrupt!!!

There is nothing wrong in my comparisons. MAS-NDLS Raj and GR are full AC, but Duronto has sleeper -- all run with same TT. A non-stop, a premium train and another poor man's 'Rath', all run in same speed and slots.
It is criminal to waste thousands of litres of precious fuel in buses, when trains can run with 1/3rd of the fuel for the same passenger load.
If more trains are provided in South India, atleast 75% of 8% -- 6% revenue loss can be minimized. Rather, more revenue can be earned....
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Compared to North, South is connectivity starved area. Let us accept the fact and leave it at that. Thanks.

U will hav to accept certain other facts also:
1. South do hav uneven terrains as comapred to North where road gives better connectivity option then rail, manywhere!!
2. Road connectivity much better in South rather than North!!
3. Purchase capacity/behaviour do have a role...in case u could afford, u gonna prefer road in car with family rather then sweating out at some junction...
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awaiting train!!
4. Migration from North lead to multiple location long route trains requirement...while South demands more about ICE as regular connection!!
But in all, these all arnt new concept to hack 8% passenger traffic!!