JoeGoaUk - GOA: June 2017

Vasco da Gama,
Port town of Goa.

Named after the Portuguese Explorer Vasco Da Gama
Londa - Madgaon - Vasco was the only Railway route to Goa. Coal / diesel Trains were running on metre gauge tracks since 1887 Portuguese time (Now broad gauge 1998).
Two trains were leaving from here to Bombay daily one was Mandovi Express. We switched trains at Miraj junction from metre gauge to broad gauge, electric Train.
Goa now also has Konkan Railway route since 1998.

Vasco da Gama Railway Station
Pic 2006

Pic 2013

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/13749504715/
Pic June 2017

Feb 2017

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/32162582403/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34753402160/in/photostream/
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35100233276/in/photostream/
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34753442820/in/photostream/

The Station has 3 platforms and about 14 trains originating from here
Howrah / Calcutta Express, Velankanni Express, Delhi Nizamudin Goa Express,
Chennai /Madras Express, Patna UP Express, Yesvantpur / Bangalore Express,
Tirupati, Hyderabad Express, Belagavi (Belgaum) etc

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/13749511075/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35009019171/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35009039861/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35009167811/in/dateposted-public/
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34294440204/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34294461174/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35139833555/in/photostream/
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34329783143/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35099979346/in/photostream/

Goods train

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34329805683/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35139908695/in/photostream/

All passenger trains suspended / Cancelled from March 22 to 3rd May 2020 due to Corona Virus scare, Lockdown India

Ticket vending machines
self ticket, require smart card
ATVM

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35008481941/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34752751610/in/photostream/

Ticket Booking counters
Tatkal tickets

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35008487551/in/photostream/
Electronic Reservation Chart
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34752764150/in/photostream/

Platform 2 & 3

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34294393874/in/photostream/

Goa Express train arrived
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35099549066/in/photostream/

Pay toilet
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34752852570/in/photostream/

AC First cum AC Two Tier
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35008603781/in/photostream/

Switching or changing platforms on foot - ground level
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35008620971/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35008655621/in/photostream/
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35008750791/in/photostream/
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Coach care centre

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35099797066/in/photostream/
Gate / Exit
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35099810506/in/photostream/

Platform Ticket Rs.10

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34753098770/in/photostream/
Foot over bridge
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34753109990/in/photostream/
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https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34975149482/in/dateposted-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35099862656/
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AC waiting hall
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34975163032/in/dateposted-public/
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VIP Lounge. F O I S
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35008984001/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35008992551/in/dateposted-public/
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Flyover road.. over tracks
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35139719085/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35139735075/in/photostream/
Spitting fine littering, urinating, defecating etc
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35009002391/in/dateposted-public/
Wet Bin, dry bin waste

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34294538964/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35099662756/in/photostream/
Differently abled / handicapped coach
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35099669386/in/photostream/

Vasco Kulem Train passenger
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35139610685/in/photostream/

Linen, blankets, pillows for A/C coaches

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35139621255/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35009053831/in/dateposted-public/

Broken electrical switches, velankanni coach
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34329907213/in/dateposted-public/

Large heavy Luggage in General compartment
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34329919403/in/dateposted-public/

Train engine
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35140014685/in/dateposted-public/

Retiring Boarding, Room Charges
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34975191642/in/photostream/

Train time table ex Margao, ex Vasco

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34974552392/
Ex Madgaon trains
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34329279313/in/photostream/

Railwire google Station
Wi-Fi

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/29492210297/in/dateposted-public/

Velankani Express train

To and from Velankanni by Train (Train re-starting 7.3.22 after Covid break)
Looks like there are only two express train direct to Velankanni
One from Goa and that’s too going once a week
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35007619831/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/35140020865/in/dateposted-public/
Train 17315 leaving Vasco (VSG) every Monday at 9.am and arriving Velankinni (VLNK) Tuesdays at 12.25 taking 27 hours, fare being Rs.
1450 2A/c Coaches
2115 3AC
540 sleeper coach
Half tickets to ladies 58 and above and Gents 60 and above (Ladies pay 50 less than gents)
300 General/Unreserved
Via Margao, Sanvordem, Kulem, Londa, Dharwad, Hubli, Devangere, yesvantpur/Bangalore, Salem, Erode, Tiruchchirappali, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam etc
Train 17316 Leaves Velankanni every Tuesdays at 23.45hrs are arrive Vasco 6 am on Thursdays
Which means, one has to return back same day night after about 10hours stay in Velankinni (assuming the train arrives on time) or after 8 days i.e. next Tuesday
There is no train for those people who wish to return after say 2-3 days.
Not even indirect trains from Nagapatinnam (NGT)/
Earlier, one could go by changing train at Bangalore catching Thanjavur Express? there and take bus or Rickshaw from NGT to the Shrine. There was train from Vasco to Bangalore/Yeshvantpur /YPR which arrived next day morning, we had one whole day for sight-seeing before catching the night train to NGT
No trains showing up from Bangalore/Bengaluru/YPR to NGT

Seems there is only option to make your journey back home by taking buses which is about rs.800 + 800 Velankanni- Bangalore and Bangalore – Goa with a day’s break at Bangalore.
Or take Bangalore train and from there take bus to Velankanni or vice versa

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk63/34973690812/in/photostream

Children 5-11 pay 265 sleeper
General coaches:
By the time the train leaves Margao, the 5-6 general coaches would be almost full mainly occupied by other passengers who are not going to Velankanni

During festival or feast time say late August to mid September, there are usually 3 additional trains to clear up the rush.

But Goa needs bi-weekly train to Velankanni bearing in mind it also serves Karnataka and Tamil Nadu States.
(Train re-starting 7.3.22 after Covid break)
Video: Velankanni Express 5.6.17
https://youtu.be/TQJEl7hN9vE

Velankani special trains (Extra trains) Aug/Sept 2017

From Vasco da Gama

Regular/Weekly Train: Every Monday via dudhsagar, Hubli, Bangalore

Special/Extra Rains: Leaves at 11.20am Sunday 27 Aug, Sunday 3^rd Sept (Wed 6^th Sept not yet confirmed) via Karwar, Mangalore, Coimbatore... Arrived Velankini next day 1pm

Leaves Velankini 8.15pm on Monday back ta Vasco 9.15pm next day

More on Vailankani trains etc visit here
https://joegoauk-pointofview.blogspot.com/2017/09/vailankanni.htm

Our vsit to Vailankanni 7th Sept 2017, click here
http://joegoauk-pointofview.blogspot.com/2017/09/vailankanni.html

About 60% book tickets online
One can book tickets on line here

https://www.irctc.co.in/eticketing/loginHome.jsf

One time registration required

Goa Express 12779
Vasco Nizamudin Express
Leaves every day at 15.20hrs Vasco da Gama
Arrives Delhi 2 days later at 06.20hrs (39 hours, Distance 2202 Kms)
Stops Margao, Sanvordem , Londa, Belgaum, Miraj, Sangli, Pune, Bopal, Agra etc
Ticket Fare
Rs. 760 sleeper ( 2 nights) (Tatkal 980)
Rs. 2060 3AC
Rs. 3030 2AC

Video Train leaving Vasco Station
https://youtu.be/kcaPNlYOcyM

Update 4.9.2019
Vasco da Gama - Belagavi (Belgaum) new train, twice a week Sat/Sun only
3 months Trial run till December 7, 2019
Video : Inaugural run 4.9.2019
Video: watch Vasco to Belgaum via dudhsagar view
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28oPW91JUrQ

Pics
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk37/48687134436/in/dateposted/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk37/48686781378/in/photostream/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk37/48687123781/in/photostream/
Train Schedule
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk37/48686783893/in/photostream/

Note: Timing is now revised eff. 13.9.19
It will now leave Vasco da Gama FRI/SAT 06:05 and arrives Belgaum at 11:20
From Belgaum it will leave 12:30 and arrive Vasco at 18:20
Stopping at Dudhsagar 5 minutes arrives 08:15 from Vasco and 15:15 from Belgaum
It will also stop at Desur station as per new schedule

Trains to Bangalore, Hubali, Londa, Belgaum etc

Daily train Vasco to Bangalore (Yesvantpur) . 15hrs journey, fare 365 sleeper, leaves Vasco 21:20

Weekly 8 trains

Yesvantpur is about 6 km distance from Bangalore City station

Daily train to Dharwad / Hubli

Weekly 14 trains

Twice daily to Londa (from here one can go to Hubali, Bangalore, Belgaum, Miraj, Mumbai etc

Weekly 23 train (24 from Margao)

Belgaum

Weekly train 3

From Margao 4

Above Info correct as on 14.11.2019, this may change in December, May

viz Belgaum/Bengalore trains

https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk30/49007008467/in/dateposted/

JoeGoaUk - GOA

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Reginald Fernandes, Romanxincho Patxai

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Railway Station: Vasco da Gama, Goa