Tips so I don't miss my train from Delhi please

MrsC_772

What time would I need to leave Vasant Vihar (where I'm staying with friends overnight) to have a chance of getting the 6.15 Shatabdi to Agra? (I assume it's always rush hour in congested polluted Delhi).

How long in advance do I need to get to the station before my train is due to leave?

How long will it take to make it through the crowds at Delhi station, find the right carriage and right seat?

Am I likely to need to fight off porter-touts to be able to lug my backpack onto the train itself? Naturally I don't want my possessions to leave my possession (and have thus invested in a pacsafe cable to secure my bag once I actually get it on to the train)

Nick-H

I do not know Delhi, and I'm sure I'd find it pretty daunting to catch a train there.

One hint. The advantage of the porters is that they will, from a glance at your ticket, take you directly to the right seat in the right carriage on the right train.

If this is a first experience, that, in itself, is well worth being overcharged for.

Railway porters are licensed, and they have many privileges that go with their employment. They will not steal your bag!

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machadinha

Yes... to add, porters are not touts. The two get lumped together a lot it seems (and the latter with beggars). Unjustly so, they're all distinguished classes of people.

Even touts, while a pest at times, can be useful for what they are: To make your day easier for a fee, and for knowing open doors that are shut to you. It's just another job. If all hotels in a town seem full, they'll know about that last free room if there is one. (Or ideally, anyway.) Many Indians will make use of their services in just this way, and take no crap from them in the meantime (arguably easier if you speak the same language).

(To add, I'd always carry my own pack on board. Unless this has worsened, this was never a problem. A porter might offer their services, then if I didn't want it, they'd be on to the next client. They're far too busy to harass you about it anyway, or that was my impression. I guess they might ask a second or third time or even give your pack a tug before walking away, I really don't remember, just that it didn't bother me.)

Timings to get to the station I can't tell you about, hopefully others will. Better too early than too late, but you'd obviously thought of that yourself already.

A final note on porters, they may run off with your stuff no matter its weight, with you having a hard time keeping up with them. They're not stealing it, but time is money to them, and they're in a hurry and know their way around the station perfectly. Don't fret.

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JuliaF

This train used to go from platform 1, I don't know if it still does but someone here will. So it will be easy to find the train, just make sure your taxi takes you to the Paharganj side not the Ajmer Gate side of the station.
Shatabdis are generally easy to find your coach and seat, and there will be a chart stuck to the side of the coach with the list of names and seat numbers so you'll know you're on the right coach.
I'd say half an hour would be plenty of time. It could be pretty hectic at the station with lots of touts targetting this train as it is used so much by tourists especially foreigners. Don't take any notice of people asking for your ticket etc, just take your time and find the carriage yourself. And if you're worried about it use a licensed porter.
Sorry don't know about distance from Vasant Vihar

PeakXV

The shrewd average Porter would love to run off(to your train or to a waiting rickshaw) with your luggage and have you seemingly on a long dog leash leaping & bounding to keep up with him - all the time with a rather sped-up rate meter spinning madly around in his head - so do negotiate any fees up front.

On the other hand porters are always approachable & more than willing-obliged to give you train/track information - if you can find one idle enough to bend his ear for half a second.

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Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

ronsaik

That early in the morning, not more than 30-40 mins. But just give yourself some extra time: leave at 0500. Reach the station by 0530-0540. Check out which platform the train is at (the Chandigarh shatabdi is always at Platform No.1 (Paharganj side), but i wouldn't know about the Agra one), walk over to the correct platform and find your seat. All that should take another 10 mins, which gives you some time to buy a newspaper before settling in.

There's a big board right at the entrance to the first and last platforms that you can't miss as soon as you enter. it tells you which platform each train is stationed (pardon the pun) at.

In Delhi, rush hour starts at around 0745 AM in summer and 0800 in winter.