ROUTE:
Mumbai CSTM to Kanyakumari via PUNE-WADI-GTL-RU-KPD-ED-ERN-TVC
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ETYMOLOGY:
The trains name is translated as "People Wins". The train was one among the various Janata expresses introduced during the early 1980s. The train was later renumbered and the named of jayanti janata faded away gradually though in Karnataka, AP and Kerala the name still lingers on.
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HISTORY:
Mumbai did not have a direct connection to Kerala till the 1970s. All that was present was a single Sleeper coach that was attached to the Mumbai-Chennai Mail that ran from Mumbai to MAS daily. The slip coach was towed all the way till MAS. When the train reached MAS in the morning, this coach was parked at the station till the time for the MAS-TVC Exp in the evening. The coach was then attached to it and thus the coach reached TVC after a harrowing journey of 4 days. So in order to put an end to an ordeal, the Railways introduced a train that ran all the way from CSTM to CAPE without touching MAS and TPTY. Later the train was run via the TPTY . The train remained the sole connection to Kerala for a decade till the time the bi weekly Netravati Exp was introduced. The train was a highly sought one and always ran full in all seasons. However the advent of KR turned the tables for this train. All the passengers slowly moved to KR as it helped reaching Kerala faster and spared the people from taking a 3 day journey. The train that was once the numero uno choice for Mumbaiites became the last choice. The train now enjoys good patronage during the vacation time but the big bunch of Kerala passengers have gone. The train now mainly used by people going to MAS and ED areas in TN. The train was the main choice of people from Pune to Kerala since in the early days of KR there were no trains run from Pune on KR. but the crowds have moved to Poorna and PUNE-ERS SF
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DESCRIPTION:
The train has a 17 coach rake. It is run by TVC division of SR. The train departs daily from CSTM at 15:45 and reaches CAPE at 12:15 2 days later averaging a speed of 47 kmph. The train offers both AC and non AC sleeper options as well as non AC seating coaches. It has 10 non-ac Sleeper coaches, 1 AC Sleeper 3 Tier coach, 1 AC 2 tier coach, 1 Pantry Car, 2 General coaches and 2 General cum Luggage coaches. The train travels on the Mumbai-Chennai Trunk Route till Katpadi after which it takes the MAS-TVC trunk line. The train then takes the TVC-MDU line from TVC onwards. There is nothing great to write about the cleanliness of the train as SR is horrible with the maintainence. But the train is fairly clean. The train has a good punctual record and is hardly delayed. The train also has a pantry aboard but the food is just average. The train traverses the magnificent Bhor Ghats and the scenery on the Pune-Wadi line is good. The train travels through the hot Rayalseema region in AP and its very hot during summers. Do watch out for fields of Sunflower. there are some big bridges on Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers as well. The train has 62 halts on both the ways and is comparatively slower than the other trains running on the route.
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LOCO LINK: The train gets a WCAM-2p/ WCAM-3 loco from CSTM to Pune. The Pune-Guntakal section is hauled by WDM3 A/D or WDG3A from GY. The train is usually seen in the GY livery of Orange and Blue WDMs. The GTL-CAPE route is hauled by Erode/Royapuram WAP 4
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RSA: The train does not have any Rake Sharing Arrangement.
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VERDICT:
Less popular, and long journey time becomes the negatives, but the journey is comfortbale, the train hardly gets delayed and convenient timings at all stations enroute add to its benefits.
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FARES
AC 2 Tier : 2890 INR
AC 3 Tier: 1955 INR
Sleeper Class: 740 INR
General: 440 INR
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RATINGS:
Speed: Poor 4/10
Comfort: Fair 7/10
Cleanliness: Poor 4/10
Food: Average 5/10
Punctuality : V. Good 8/10
Total score: 28/50
