Tippu Express runs both ways between Bangalore and Mysore. It is a superfast train and hence the charges are more, Rs. 70 as against Rs. 55 for other Express trains and Rs. 22 for passenger trains.
I use the Tippu Express quite often. The train is scheduled to cover the Bangalore-Mysore distance of 139 Km in 2.5 hours and I noticed that it is frequently late, causing needless hardship to a huge number of passengers (missing connections, being late for appointments, etc.). To get my facts right, I filed an RTI application and obtained the delay statistics for Tippu Express coming from Bangalore to Mysore for the whole year 2013 (click here). I found that:
1. The train was on time only on 121 days (33%) and was late on 244 days (67%).
2. In August 2013 it was not on time even once.
3. In 2013, the train was late, on the average, by 16 minutes every day. This may not seem much but look at it this way. The train has 22 coaches each with a capacity of 108 passengers. With a total capacity of nearly 2400 passengers every trip, a delay of 16 minutes every day means a waste of 2,40,000 man-hours every year!
4. The train has been late by as much as 90 minutes.
5. In my RTI query, I had asked why the train runs late frequently, but Railways did not give any reasons.
6. According to railway policy, a superfast train should be given two block stations preference and should not be stopped for crossing. But it appears that the policy is flouted since the train stops at Settihalli, Byadarahalli, Pandavapura and even Naganahalli for crossings.
7. While coming to Mysore, the train is frequently made to wait in the outskirts of the city for 5-10 minutes.
The last two are avoidable delays (possibly accounting for all the total delay) and I request the railways to attend to them.
Prof S Sekhar, MGP