Just today travelled in this train from BBS to BLS.
It was a link journey as i was travelling from pune to balasore. First in konark express from pune to BBS and then this shatabdi to BLS. I always opt janshatabdi as a connecting train for Konark Exp, from BBS to BLS. But from few days i was seeing Konark's punctuality was degrading. Its reaching late at BBS. Today also it reached BBS 1hr late.
So I didnt took chances for janshatabdi and booked this shatabdi.
It...
more... came bang on time pf 3 behind a sparkling SRC WAP 4. Pf 3 just got vacant at 0645hr after departure of Bolangir intercity.
My coach was C2. It was third last coach. Today train was nearly 20% filled up from puri. And at BBS, it got completely filled. While leaving BBS, my C2 was totally full.
Then attendant came and asked for veg or non-veg lunch. And provided a water bottle and newspaper Indian Express. Passengers travelling till BLS are not entitled for lunch.
Breakfast is provided as per the choice (veg/non veg) you gave while booking. Breakfast was provided just after CTC dep.
I had a veg breakfast. It consisted:
Bread slices, Butter, Mixed fruit Jam, Veg cutlet (too warm and tasty) with ketchup, minute maid mango juice and tea maker. Hot water with paper cup is provided once you are done with breakfast. Non veg breakfast just consisted egg-omlette instead of cutlet.
The coach was new and seats were very good. Charging sockets were present and working good.
Regarding speed, i was very sad and disappointed. The ECoR should be ashamed of preparing so slow and laid back TT for its only shatabdi. Eventhough rake is LHB but i think if comparison is made between Janshatabdi and shatabdi, I would say the ICF janshatabdi is pretty much more aggressive.
This 12278 didn't had any aggressive show down. It was made to overtake the freights from loop line at many stations and was hardly hitting any MPS. May be the reason could be ahead running 15227 weekly, but still its a premier class LHB shatabdi and ECoR should speed it up a bit.
Its punctuality is brilliant, all thanks to pretty slow and slacked up schedule.