Big Darjeeling problem, desperate for help

Jedigar

Hi everyone,
So I made it to India and am in Agra now, I really want to go to Darjeeling but it seems trains are a problem, I was hopingto leave from varanasi this coming thursday...
But cant get a space,I am open to any possible routings that will get me there by next weekend, Bus,rail,train please share yuor experiences and thoughts on availability

Thanks

Gar

jyotirmoy

Take a train to Kolkata, you will get buses to take you to Shiliguri or New Jalpaiguri from Kolkata. From here take shared cab, toy train etc. to reach Darjeeling....

cyberhippie

Have you tried the Taktal/Tourist quotas??????

steven_ber

Good thinking CH.

Train 2506 (North East Express) departs Mughal Sarai (about 16 Kms from Varanasi) daily at 18:30 and gets to New Jalpaiguri at 08:40

Availability for Thursday 5-10-2006 (using Foreign tourist quota)

2-tier air con = AVAILABLE- 0004
3-tier air con = AVAILABLE- 0004
Sleeper Class = AVAILABLE- 0004 (not air con)

__________________
.
How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions.


Train information.


RAC & Waitlists explained.

steven_ber

Before you get excited........

Although the North East express is scheduled to arrive in New Jalpaiguri before the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway train departs (09:00 I think), the trains on this route are normally late, expect to get to New Jalpaiguri 2 - 4 hours late.

Sorry, I wouldn't want you planning to catch the DHR when it's highly unlikely your train will arrive on time.

Jedigar

I tried at Agra fort train station and to be honest they were pretty unhelpful...
But you have put me in better spirits, as long as I can get to NJP I amnt too worried about the toy train...

If any of you guys make it to Darjeeling I owe you a beer/cup of tea

Thanks for your help,

Il let you know if I get a ticket...

Gar

Jedigar

Steve,

I presume you used the website for your info there, I have just looked though and it seems to say none available... Do you think I am doing something wrong here?

THanks

TimMakins

Be aware that the DHR is always very busy, and often booked for days in advance. The train only has a few carriages, so gets booked out quite easily. It is unlikely that you can just turn up and buy a ticket, but there are plenty of other options via bus or shared jeep: they are a LOT quicker too. If your heart is set on a ride on the DHR, you could take one of the special trains from Darjeeling to Ghoom and back: the bonus is that its steam-hauled usually.

Tim in England

__________________
Travelling Tim - http://www.mapability.com/blogs/ My images at Lonely Planet - http://tinyurl.com/yk43ams

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Mark Twain

steven_ber

Look at the top left of the screen and you will see 'quota', on the 'pull down' list you will see 'Foreign tourist quota', click on that, then try again.

steven_ber

Go to the following page.

http://www.indianrail.gov.in/src_dest_trns.html

Enter Source Station Code - MGS

Enter Destination Station Code - NJP


Enter Class - All Class

Then click on Get It.



onto next page........

Click on circle next to train 2506.

Look at top left of screen.....

Enter Your Journey Date - 5 - Oct.

Enter Quota - Foreign Tourist Quota

Look at the top right of the screen for Classes, click on the circle next to the class you want (make sure it's on the same line as the train you want).

Then click on Get Availability


Sorry if I explain this in a patronising way, it's not ment to be that way.

Jedigar

steve, Not patronising at all, vEry helpful in fact, I was using the trains between major destinations route and having no joy, but probably my stupidity...

Appreciate the help, Hopefull tomorrow aM when I get to Varanasi they will hook me up,.

Off to Joneys now for some malai kofta nice..

freenote

I have managed to get on the DHR without reserving but in hindsight it is not advisable . You have had a night on a train and you are tired ,maybe a bit grumpy ,and there you are crammed in a toy train and very slowly being pulled up the mountains ,various meals being spilled ,kids playing up as usual,mums trying to get the best deal for them ,woolly hats flying around and all this carries on for about 9 hours .Best bet as mentioned above ,bus or shared jeep and take a tour being pulled by a steam train from Darjeeling

Jedigar

Got my train booked

Much appreciated

tintin8801

welcome