Am I crazy to book this train so close to my flight?

tesser7 · Dec 12th, 2007, 01:25

I have a 02:35 flight out of Delhi, and I'm trying to figure out if I'd be absolutely crazy to take the 17:00 DEHRADUN SHTBDI from Dehra Dun to Delhi, which is supposed to get into New Delhi station at 22:45. The train originates in Dehra Dun, so it doesn't have too much time to get behind schedule (at least not as much as other trains).

I figure even if it runs 2 hours behind schedule (and it's only a 5 hr 45 min ride to begin with), from what I've gathered the airport should take less than 1/2 hour from the train station (is that right?) so we'd still get to the airport roughly 1 hour before our flight. Is that enough time at Delhi airport on a Friday night at ~1:30am?

Thoughts? This trip will take place in mid-January, so I know there might be a problem with fog, too.

Thanks in advance!

Judi · Dec 12th, 2007, 03:09

Yes!

You are assuming that the train doesn't have much time to get delayed on a 5 hour journey ........ if its' departure gets delayed by several hours (and that's a strong possibility at that time of year)you miss your flight. So yes, you would be crazy to book this train so close to your flight.

tesser7 · Dec 12th, 2007, 03:18

*Several* hours? How many hours do you think I should leave, just in case?

Thanks!

machadinha · Dec 12th, 2007, 03:34

As a rule of thumb, for important connections I'd try to plan it so that if your connection to your transit or esp. exit point falls through for whatever reason, you have the time to both arrange and catch an alternative means of transport. Not just in India, btw.

Guidebooks and so on should be helpful in giving you an idea of time involved. But counting on smooth connections there is generally unwise. I've had trains simply not showing up for a day there, and hence having to wait for as long. Fun if you have the time and a sense of humor; not if you don't. And again, this can happen where I live (in Europe. Well, less in the extreme, maybe, but in fact it or something approaching it is not inconceivable).

tesser7 · Dec 12th, 2007, 03:50

Thanks, guys.

Would you say there are many buses running each day from Mussoorie to Delhi? All day long? Or is that something I should look into in advance? From what I can tell it's about a 7 hour drive, does that sound right?

Would a private taxi be a lot more expensive/comfortable? Is that something that would be hard to find in Mussoorie?

Sorry for my cluelessness

machadinha · Dec 12th, 2007, 03:59

All I know is for a taxi/jeep you'll be (naturally) looking at paying their return fare too. You get shared taxi deals and so on though. But yes, count on it being substantially more expensive. Beats missing out on your exit or connecting flight though.

The rest, I just don't know. I've never visited that area. Others will hopefully be in. Enquiring about outbound transport options as soon as you can and/or have made your mind up when to (approximately) leave in any place never hurt no one in any case. Those shared taxis tend to wait till they are filled up at about three times their capacity, so if it's more comfortable I'm not so sure.

vsp27759 · Dec 14th, 2007, 20:04

Dear tesser7,

##It takes not less than 2 Hrs. from New Delhi Station, to reach Delhi International Airport, but not 1/2 Hour!!!!

##A passenger taking an International Flight MUST report in the Airport, atleast 3 Hrs. before the scheduled departure of the Flight.

(Delays in Flight's Departure are NOT counted here, unless the Operator is wise enough to inform you about the delay in departure)
-----------
##Please get into Bus at Mussorie around noon, so that you can reach Airport without any hassles.

Casey · Dec 15th, 2007, 04:37

It took us about 3 hours to travel through all the lines to get to the departure gate when we were flying out of India. I am not sure if that is usual because I had only travelled out of Mumbai before. We were really glad we went with the 3 hour rule. It took less than 1 hour to get the the airport in the middle of the night. I certainly wouldn't risk missing your flight by cutting it that close.

Dec 12th, 2007, 01:25	#1
tesser7 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NYC, USA Posts: 41	Am I crazy to book this train so close to my flight? I have a 02:35 flight out of Delhi, and I'm trying to figure out if I'd be absolutely crazy to take the 17:00 DEHRADUN SHTBDI from Dehra Dun to Delhi, which is supposed to get into New Delhi station at 22:45. The train originates in Dehra Dun, so it doesn't have too much time to get behind schedule (at least not as much as other trains). I figure even if it runs 2 hours behind schedule (and it's only a 5 hr 45 min ride to begin with), from what I've gathered the airport should take less than 1/2 hour from the train station (is that right?) so we'd still get to the airport roughly 1 hour before our flight. Is that enough time at Delhi airport on a Friday night at ~1:30am? Thoughts? This trip will take place in mid-January, so I know there might be a problem with fog, too. Thanks in advance!

Dec 12th, 2007, 03:09	#2
Judi Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: England Posts: 458	Yes! You are assuming that the train doesn't have much time to get delayed on a 5 hour journey ........ if its' departure gets delayed by several hours (and that's a strong possibility at that time of year)you miss your flight. So yes, you would be crazy to book this train so close to your flight. __________________ It is better to light a candle than complain about the darkness.

Dec 12th, 2007, 03:34	#4
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 11,153	As a rule of thumb, for important connections I'd try to plan it so that if your connection to your transit or esp. exit point falls through for whatever reason, you have the time to both arrange and catch an alternative means of transport. Not just in India, btw. Guidebooks and so on should be helpful in giving you an idea of time involved. But counting on smooth connections there is generally unwise. I've had trains simply not showing up for a day there, and hence having to wait for as long. Fun if you have the time and a sense of humor; not if you don't. And again, this can happen where I live (in Europe. Well, less in the extreme, maybe, but in fact it or something approaching it is not inconceivable). __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

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Dec 12th, 2007, 03:18	#3
tesser7 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NYC, USA Posts: 41	Several hours? How many hours do you think I should leave, just in case? Thanks!

Dec 12th, 2007, 03:50	#5
tesser7 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NYC, USA Posts: 41	Thanks, guys. Would you say there are many buses running each day from Mussoorie to Delhi? All day long? Or is that something I should look into in advance? From what I can tell it's about a 7 hour drive, does that sound right? Would a private taxi be a lot more expensive/comfortable? Is that something that would be hard to find in Mussoorie? Sorry for my cluelessness

Dec 12th, 2007, 03:59	#6
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 11,153	All I know is for a taxi/jeep you'll be (naturally) looking at paying their return fare too. You get shared taxi deals and so on though. But yes, count on it being substantially more expensive. Beats missing out on your exit or connecting flight though. The rest, I just don't know. I've never visited that area. Others will hopefully be in. Enquiring about outbound transport options as soon as you can and/or have made your mind up when to (approximately) leave in any place never hurt no one in any case. Those shared taxis tend to wait till they are filled up at about three times their capacity, so if it's more comfortable I'm not so sure.

Dec 14th, 2007, 20:04	#7
vsp27759 V.SRINIVASA PRASAD Join Date: May 2005 Location: HYDERABAD Posts: 1,689	Dear tesser7, ##It takes not less than 2 Hrs. from New Delhi Station, to reach Delhi International Airport, but not 1/2 Hour!!!! ##A passenger taking an International Flight MUST report in the Airport, atleast 3 Hrs. before the scheduled departure of the Flight. (Delays in Flight's Departure are NOT counted here, unless the Operator is wise enough to inform you about the delay in departure) ----------- ##Please get into Bus at Mussorie around noon, so that you can reach Airport without any hassles.

Dec 15th, 2007, 04:37	#8
Casey Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 637	It took us about 3 hours to travel through all the lines to get to the departure gate when we were flying out of India. I am not sure if that is usual because I had only travelled out of Mumbai before. We were really glad we went with the 3 hour rule. It took less than 1 hour to get the the airport in the middle of the night. I certainly wouldn't risk missing your flight by cutting it that close.

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