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ameya

This was a total surprise and unexpected trip that happened today. I am here in Delhi, for work from Monday till tomorrow. Since today is an holiday and was known before, I had made a plan of going to Agra.

Booked myself on 12002 Delhi Bhopal Shatabdi, departing NDLS at 0615hrs, this train is the fastest in India and clocks that fastest speed on Delhi – Agra sector, with scheduled arrival into Agra Cantt at 0820hrs, that’s 2:05mins for over 215kms. And since the same train is very late on the return, booked myself on Navyug Exp departing Agra Cantt at 1730, reaching Delhi 3hrs 30 mins later.

Checked yesterday that Navyug exp was already running 2 hours late due to some rail rook somewhere in south. I was supposed to board on day 3 of this trains departure, so I was tracking it for two days since it left.

Since its not a TR for the railway journey, would not describe it in detail, but I Really liked this Shatabdi experience.

So, I was in Agra, I figured out that my return train was now delayed by 7hrs 15mins, almost all trains were delayed and I was in no mood to go in some general compartment by taking a current ticket so I was exploring options to go back to Delhi, visiting the bus stand and figured out the timings and details.

At lunch, 1350hrs, I suddenly realized that its winter schedule going on and KF has a flight to AGR in Winter. Next moment checked the timing on cleartrip from my mobile for the next day, since todays flight, it wasn’t showing. It was 1520 departure. Made a couple of quick calls and requests and fare checks and decided to take this flight. It was 1403. I was told I would be accommodated in the flight, only if I take my ticket before 1415. A friend took me on his bike to the airport, which is a small building inside the air force station, with no separate entrance. My aim was to run to the ticketing counter and tell the PNR, pay and rush in. Surprise ! There is no ticketing counter at AGR, CISF and Later KFA confirmed that since the terminal is also inside the highly secure air base, they have not been allowed a ticketing counter, only previously ticketed pax can come in. I begged to CISF, called the KF guys, and paid at the entry gate and then came by boarding card after which CISF let me in.

Had just one hand baggage so cleared security in a breeze, this was 1425. The aircraft had already landed, it was before time !
Boarding started within few minutes and I was onboard within an hour of deciding to take that flight !

Agra Airport : You can check the domestic terminal on Google Earth, it’s a very small building, having a different area for international arrivals. There are 5 check in counters of which KF is using 2, again this flight would be pulled out for Summer.

The security check is a small place with 1 counter each for male and female pax. Post which is the security hold area enough for A A320 load of pax, which nobody operates. One stall selling some antique things which are priced triple the street value. The building looks like it has recently received a fresh coat of paint.

The terminal had 1 TV, no flight information display. One gulfstream with british registration was parked on the tarmac.

Checking to boarding –
Checking kind of dint happen for me, since the boarding pass came out. Security was a breeze, because the load was 32 and most of them had already cleared security. The ground time was much more than required and the flight also pulled out earlier than scheduled time. KF decided to board row 1-5, 6-10 and then the rest on this ATR 42-320 flight.

Ramp –
There were a couple of step ladders of AI and 1 of KF. I guess there must be charter operations happening by AI as well as KF, quite often.

Flight –
Was surprising to see only 1 FA in the flight .Regulations do allow that, as it is 1 FA per 50 pax, so that is not an issue, but I was still expecting it would be 2.

The flight is supposed to be of 1hr block time. We were chocks off at 1500, airborne at 1503, and landed on rwy 29 at 1537 touchdown, 1542 at bay, next to the two CRJ 700s of AI – Regional. This 5 min from touchdown to bay was more because of 2 A320s passing the taxiway.

There wasn’t much of a service per say, I bought a can of coke which was priced at Rs.50. Few people bought some sandwiches. I have always wondered who would take this flight ever, such a short one, which actually was much shorter but it seems people do take such flights !

Aircraft –
VT-ADK
One of the two ATR 42-500 which KF has and the only two aircrafts which they own !
MSN – 613
First Flight – 02/06/2001
Plane Age – 9.7 yrs
Previous Registrations - N316VX with ACES Colombia

The aircraft wasn’t in a very good state in terms of its seats. The handrest had those small bins, whose covers were missing. People had still dumped sum rubbish waste in it, which was not cleaned, so it was difficult to rest your hands on them.

The seats were in all blue.

Flight details

IT 4367 ( Incoming aircraft )
STD (from)DEL – 1350
ATD (from)DEL – 1345

STA (at AGR) – 1450
ATA (at AGR) – 1422

IT 4386
STD – 1520
ATD – 1500

STA – 1620
ATA – 1542

We were bussed to the terminal and baggage was on belt 8, which had no significance for me.
This was the first time I was seeing the T3 after it was operational, so spent some time reviewing things. Landing at T3 meant I can try the new Metro ! and headed straight for the underground Airport Express line. Not happy with the long wait times for the train to come, I had to wait for 17 mins, it seems it is after every 25 mins or so. But it was empty, so I don’t expect them to increase frequency as of now. Also all but 1 station are under construction yet, so things should improve after that I feel. But it is truly great experience, with the coaches designed well suited for the needs, I specially liked the fancy indicator of showing the route which is being covered.

Got down at NDLS and thus ended my adventure for the day !

Couldn’t click any photos at AGR, due security restrictions, which were put in place only for non white foreigners by the CISF. That’s how I felt, everybody who was foreigner and a white skinned foreigner were allowed to take pics. No offence meant for the words, just an observation.

No pics clicked inflight, since the window was very bad and had stains of what looked like paint 

Both the pilots were Indians.

I hope this covers most of the questions, kindly buzz if you need anything more !

avbuff · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 5031

Thanks for your TR ameya, really keen to check out that airport express.

It seems AGR is a stricter version of PNQ!

ameya · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:56 pm Post subject:

shivendrashukla · Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:41 pm Post subject:

I guess we are still living in some past decades regarding the photo instructions. It is a common knowledge that Agra now has nothing but IL-76 and A-50. So so much security is not called in for. If the canberras were still there, probably yes..

Cheers
Shivendra

sri_bom · Member Joined: 22 Dec 2006 Posts: 2365 Location: Singapore

Thanks for the quick TR was interesting to read your short trip.