Though this train's last stop is Kolhapur, the same rake will go to Pandharpur as 11052 - SCSMT Kolhapur - Solapur Express with 50 minutes buffer time at Kolhapur. So people can travel from Ballari, Hosapete, Koppal, Gadag, Hubballi, Dharwad, Belagavi to Pandharpur (on daily basis) by this train without need of changing train at Miraj.
But it will be a round about..BAY MRJ KOP MRJ PANP
Yes. It will be round about. In other routes, there will be many transfer points like Guntakal / Solapur / Kurduvadi or Gadag / Solapur / Kurduvadi
I used to travel in this train almost a decade ago. I do not even remember whether catering was available, THEN. Now, that IRI mentions that catering is available, I would like to know when going from SBC to BGM / MRJ / KOP is catering available after UBL?
I am asking this as I had a very BAD experience perhaps somewhere in between 1998 - 2000 - I was travelling from SBC to BGM and the journey upto DWR was as usual, but once our train crossed Alnavar (LWR)...
more... we had too many un-scheduled stoppages midway on the tracks in 'thick n dense' Dandeli Forests - Somehow the train reached NAGARGALI station. And it never moved further from there until I was there. The reason - a goods train that was just ahead of our train had derailed ahead of NAG. At this single platform stn, we had nothing to eat. Just a small tea shop outside the stn. We helplessly waited for more than 3 hours at this station. However, some locals made some hot UPMA / UPPIT and OGGARANE AVVALAKKI (Puffed rice dish) and sold to helpless and hungry passengers. The IR authorities then arranged 3 to 4 KSRTC buses from Dharwad Depot that arrived by around 12 noon and we were ferried to BGM - I was happy to reach BGM at 2 p.m. and passengers who were bound further were arranged accommodation in a spl train from BGM to Miraj.
I am strongly making this a point that when this train reaches UBL, its too early in the morning and most of the passengers are either asleep or do not bother to have anything more than a cup of tea/coffee at UBL, though hot and tasty IDLYs and WADAs are available at UBL from 5 a.m. itself. Further, after LWR, its thick forest, and forest and forest and nothing else upto Khanapur.
So my suggestion - carry some packed snacks (biscuits/cakes/wafers/wafer-biscuits etc) and at least a few liters of drinking water as a contingency measure - especially if you are travelling with kids. Alternately, make sure you are awake when train reaches UBL and then get some IDLY / WADAs as parcel. Its always best to have these contingency plans for food / water ready before starting your journey.
And last thought - Most of us, now-a-days carry less cash while travelling in trains for various reasons - one of them being - ATMs are available at stations - but its good to have some cash handy in emergencies when one is stuck in between two big stations - where there is nothing available and then imagine that you had to make quite a distance by hiring some vehicle locally to reach nearest ATM - this helps.
TRAVEL SAFE - PLAN for CONTINGENCY - Pantry/catering available or not - Carry enough food and water.
best train tip read ever..with so much elucidation. Hats off!
Thanks. But in that case doesn't the tip deserve a GREAT? :) Thanks again.
Unfortunately only green can be given , otherwise it eq to 10 greats!
Thanks for educating me. I grew a bit greedy I guess. Sorry!
An eye opener for many people... but even on Mumbai-Howrah trunk route I always carry dry foods & water as precaution, as I too suffered when I was small as mere 8 yrs old in Howrah-Dadar Special train which was struck for good 3-4 hrs for some track related reason...
Thanks. But how old (young) are you now? So that I can manage to calculate the problem you faced in HWH-Dadar Spl exp. :)
I would like to know when going from SBC to BGM / MRJ / KOP is catering available after UBL?
Almost nothing till Londa.
Tea/Coffee at Dharwad and some vendors selling the Peda.
Londa has things to offer, the Vada Pav and Kandha wada being the most common. The main PF, Pf1 that is, has about 3-4 stalls where things like Idlies are available. You'll have to rush to these stalls as soon as the train stops at the PF.
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No...
more... idea about BGM but if I were to guess, BGM too would have good options for BF.
BGM has everything. Kunda, Idly Wadas (not as good as in UBL), Wada Paav, Egg Omlets, etc. Many Engineering students from KLE Engg college and GIT Engg college of BGM come here to savour EGG omlets, Bhurji, Half-boiled (Bull's eye) etc between 12 midnight and 3 a.m. - when all restaurants are closed and these hungry-guts need to cool down their hunger. And I do not want to forget to mention here that ADRAK ki CHAAI is also available inside and also outside of the BGM STN.
Hello sir,
You are telling 15 years old story.The Belgaum is now one of the top 10 stations of SWR.I have travelled more stations in SWR but belgaum is best.
Don't worry about food .Login to yatracgef.com and enter your pnr,select menu and order yummy and delicious food which I have tasted.
I was in Belgaum recently. The food options is not good even now. Regarding yatrachef the minimum order for Belgaum is Rs 180 which I think is not good for single travelers.
Catering is available at Londa Junction
I am told Upma (Uppittu in Kannada) sold at Londa Railway station (Londa Jn. is on Hubli Belgaum Line with a Branch Line towards Madgaon/Vasco) is very famous. Those travelling/getting down at Londa Railway station may taste this and give their feed back. Thanks in advance.
Don't know about upma but have tasted vadapav at Londa at evening taste was always good.
Tasted the best medu vada here at pf1 canteen and pf2-3 stalls , very crisp and spicy; the coconut chutney provided is also very good.
They sell vada paav with green chilli also at stalls but it is average in taste.
From evening to night time when slip coaches of goa and RC get attached/detached, they were selling hot dosa also which was ok in taste.
Vada...
more... paav: 25rs for 2
Medu vada : 20rs for 2
Dosae;:. 40 rs
Please post pics of the same
Pics, not taken. Packed them in ate afterwards in train. Though after having them, felt that should have taken pics