Book Shimla Train well in advance

Just tried to book Shivalik Delux Express for April 12th today.....

Its on waiting list and so are the next few weeks after that.

Michael

The tourist season has just started...

Why dont you try other trains?

IRCTC site doesnt work after 11-30 pm. I'll leave a note here gain for u tmrw.

I was going to suggest using the Foreign Tourist Quota (of which there are 8 tickets allocated daily) when you arrive in India.

It's rarely fully used, however I see that on the 12 April there are only 2 tickets remaining, though there's decent availability on the days before and after.

I don't know if there's a Tatkal Quota on this train, but this quota is only available 7 days ahead anyway.

This route to be heavily booked over holiday periods - Easter's a Public Holiday in India too!!!

Dominoes, I got waitlist when I looked under the tourist quota.....

Where did you look to find two seats available and which train.

Thanks

Hey your right dominoes I found it - on the Shivalak Express....

Hopefully it will be there tomorrow too when I can book it online.

Michael.

Look for Klk Sml Pass (Train no 1KS).. It leaves at 4 am though

Also look for Himalayan Queen (Train no 255).. It leaves at 12-10 in the afternoon... 12 Apr has WL2 which I think would get cleared easily.. Tickets are available 13th onwards on this train. Good luck!

Thanks for all the help......

Unfortunately it seems you can't book Tourist Quota tickets online.

I'm not keen on waitlisting and the train I really want is a morning one so I can get an onward bus from Shimla.

Is the Kalka-Shimla train ride really so special?

It does seem that you need to book quite a long way in advance, maybe over a month in the tourist season to get the train you want.


Michael.

Yes Mike, You do need to book quite early. Especially in April-May.

Toy train has a charm of its own and you'll definitely like it. Why dont you travel by toy train on your way back if you're coming through Shimla.

Thanks OrangeStreet, I was thinking of taking the train back from Shimla does it have a guaranteed connection with the train back to Delhi....

Thanks, Michael.

Yes, Trains coming from Shimla to Kalka are connecting trains to those leaving for Delhi.

You should give an hour or two in between two trains. eg Himalayan queen reaches Kalka at 10 pm and kalka mail for delhi leaves at 11-55 pm.

The narrow gauge trains all connect at Kalka with trains to/from New Delhi.
The Shivalik Deluxe connects with the arriving 2311 Howrah -Kalka Mail for example.

If you wait until you arrive in India you could probably book the following on the Foreign Tourist Quota

4095 Himalayan Queen from New Delhi at 05.55 arriving Kalka at 11.10hrs.
This connects with the 255 Himalayan Queen dep Kalka 11.10 arrive Shimla 1720 hrs.
There's plenty of availability just now.
If your dates are flexible you'll definitely be able to go up and down on the narrow guage railway.
If not, there are comfy Volvo buses direct from Delhi to Shimla - with outstanding views!!! - which may prove useful in either direction.

Good Luck.

PS Hotel accommodation will also be under pressure...try and arrange somewhere before you arrive if possible.

Thanks Dominoes, I'll be coming into Chandigarh from Lucknow arriving about 10am - a few hours in the rock garden and then either stay in Chandigarh or maybe even go some of the way to Shimla, assuming those two places for the train are gone off the tourist quota when I get to India in 10 days -

can you recommend somewhere to stop for the night one or two hours before Shimla.

It would probably be a bit too late to go on to Narkanda when I arrive and then I'm heading to Kalpa and Sangla...

Thanks again, Michael.

If you can't secure a reservation on any of the trains from Kalka to Shimla you can get a direct bus from Chandigarh.

Alternatively you can get buses to places like Kaauli or Chail which are other hill stations in the area and very refreshing and cool and free from foreign tourists.

Both have onward road connections directly to Shimla, and Kasauli is close to Dharampur on the Kalka-Shimla railway line.