I took the Southern Expressway Bus (SEX Bus if you will) today and it was A) instantly available and B) largely unoccupied. This is good because it’s good for me, but bad because the thing used to be packed. I honestly think part of it is because the fare was raised Rs. 70 due to recent gas hikes.
The SEX Bus is great because you can shoot down to Galle in about 1:30. I had a meeting in Unawatuna so I hopped out at the corner and instantly hopped another bus down the coast. It’s pretty great actually. I got off so soon that I didn’t have a chance to pay for the latter. It’s kinda weird. I was on Facebook Messenger the whole way down and I just ended up on the beach.
The SEX Bus is ungreat because it starts in Maharagama and it was always booked. At least at the beginning. Now it’s just there, it seems to depart frequently and you don’t have to book in advance. I’m not sure if this is because a 70 Rupee hike on an already high fare (Rs. 470 total) is psychologically prohibitive, or if people were taking it like a rollercoaster ride and that demand has died down. While it’s good that it’s available, it’s also better if the thing runs at capacity, and the bus coming back was more than half empty.
I still think it’s pretty great. I pay about the same for a trishaw to get to Maharagama as it takes to get to Unawatuna. You can be down south for a meeting and back the same day, none too much the worse for wear.
There was one incident in the news where an ordinary old CTB bus was detailed for the run, and the passengers demanded their money back or something. Must have put people off. Also there would have been a lot of people just taking the trip for the experience initially. But the earnings from the highway seem to be good still.