Worth Booking Ahead?

Little Lina

Hey there,

Myself and a few friends are thinking of catching the train to Shimla (Himalayan Queen then toy train) in Early to Mid June. We don't wish to waste any time in Dehli. Does any body advise pre-booking before we get there or is it fairly safe to assume that there will be enought tickets for us to purchase on the day we wish todepart?

Any comments from those who have done the trip around this time would be appreciated!

Cheers,
Lina

soulstation

Early to Mid June will be very very very hot in Delhi, so everbody will be making a beeline to the hills. There will be a rush for Shimla during that period. Hence, booking in advance is highly recommended. You can book via internet. The booking will be form Delhi to Shimla. The train from Delhi will reach Kalka station early moning and from there a toy train (narrow gauge) will start till Shimla. This is a connecting train and so no separate ticket is required.

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kaushiks

If you book now, you may not get the tickets to Shimla. Don't miss the himalayan queen.

Little Lina

thanks for your advice. We are also toying witht he idea of taking the train straight up to Pathankot then catching a bus to Mc Leod ganj and heading back to Dehli via Shimla on the Himalayan queen. Does the same problem still apply? Should we be making sure that all of our trains are booked well in advance?

Also, is booking on the interenet reliable? Are we better off booking through a travel agent?

Thanks!
Lina

kaushiks

The same thing does not apply to the Pathankot train. I don't think it even has advance reservation (Infact, I am pretty sure). It is not a luxury train like the himalayan queen. Only locals travel in it. So, if this is your first trip to India, I suggest you start with the luxurious Himalayan queen, then finish with the Kangra queen(from Pathankot), to give it all an endemic touch.

SHIMLA

You must book in advance for June for the toy train and Himalayan Queen, whether Delhi-Shimla or Shimla-Delhi.

However, if you're planning Delhi-Shimla, then the overnight Kalka Mail and the next morning's connecting Shivalik Deluxe Express is a better way of reaching Shimla by train. The advantages are twofold:

1. You travel overnight and reach Shimla at 10.00 a.m. The entire day is not wasted in transit.

2. By travelling overnight you avoid a night halt at Delhi.

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04274108

You may want to read my January 14th, 2005, 08:42 PM post to read about one of my experiences buying a last minute ticket.

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neeltje

Dear experts,

I have been trying to make a train reservation through the internet, but teh regular Indian Railways website always crashes and another site, IRTC or something, seems only to send tickets to addresses in India. And what I would like to do is to take the train at about 7 am, after arriving at 3am in Delhi (by plane). Does anyone know another way of getting tickets?
Ana another question: I want to get to Shimla, and to me it seems more attractive to take the Shabtadi train to Kalka at 7.40am and then transfer to the toy train to Shimla once I get to Kalka. Why would it be better to take the Himalayan Queen from Delhi to Shimla at 6am? Maybe because with the other one I could easily miss the connection in Kalka?

SHIMLA

neeltje,

1. You'll have to give some Delhi address to have the on-line ticket sent there. Then again, it'll be a pain collecting the ticket at that odd hour.

2. Yes, with the Shatabdi you'll miss the 12=10 train to Shimla. Of course, you can take the Shatabdi to Kalka and then a taxi from Kalka to Shimla, but you'll miss out on the "toy train" experience.

You haven't mentioned when are you going - if its off season, then you can get a ticket at the last minute.

neeltje

Thank you Shimla. We'll be going on July 6th, if the plane allows it. But I'm afraid that if Shatabdi is not an option, chances are very small that we'll manage, because catching the Himalayan Queen at 6am is very optimistic.
I just received a ticket from irctc that the New delhi Reservation Office where one can pick up reserved tickets is open for collection 24hrs, so that sounds good. We'll have to decide whether to spend a day in Delhi and then leave for Shimla and have the toy train experience or take the Shatabdi and travel from Kalka to Shimla by bus. I assume there are buses in the afternoon, or would a taxi be the only option?

neeltje

One more question: I just saw on trainenquery.com that there is another train from Kalka to Shimla, leaving at 12.45 and arriving at 18.30. It is a bit longer, but in that way I think we would make it, or not? Is the Shatabdi train usually punctual?

steven_ber

neeltje

Can you please explain further, as far as we are aware, the tickets could no longer be picked up in Delhi.

Can you copy any e-mails you have received from IRCTC (leaving out your PNR number)?

This would be very helpful to lots of members.

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SHIMLA

neeltje,

If you're travelling in July, then you need not worry about advance reservations.

I now suggest you take the Shatabdi by buying ticket at the last minute - the train will be half empty, so they'll welcome you on board - and then take either the 12=45 train to Shimla or a bus or a share taxi. The Shatabdi is normally punctual.

BTW, where did you see this 12=45 train? Is it a holiday special? If yes, then chances are that it may not be in operation after June 30.

SHIMLA

neeltje,

You have already mentioned the site where you found the 12=45 train. I checked it and my suspicions are true - its indeed a holiday special. It may or may not be in operation after June 30.

neeltje

Thank you very much again. I understand that when the train is rather empty it is possible to go straight to the train and buy a ticket on board (or just outside the train)? That would be perfect, because if we are lucky we might catch the Himalayan Queen.

This is the email I received about collecting the tickets 24hrs:

Dear Customer,

Kindly note that you can make a reservation.Wherther you are indian or
foreginer.

The reservation of tickets may be done from any part of the world making
online payments using Master / Visa Credit Cards issued by any bank across
the world, but the delivery of tickets is made in over 139 cities listed
under Places of Delivery. The pin code wise list of areas covered for
delivery may be viewed from the link "Places of Delivery" in the site.
However you can also avail the facility of special NRI personal
collection of tickets, which presently is available at New Delhi Only. The
collection center is located at:
IRCTC ltd
New Delhi Reservation Office,
IRCA Buildings, Chelmsford Road, New Delhi 110055.
Collection hours: 24 Hrs.

However you can also get the delivery of your tickets at the hotel you are
planning to stay in any of the cities listed covered under our Places of
Delivery. For that you will have to nominate an official (by name /
designation) of the hotel to receive the ticket on your behalf. You must
also advise the hotel to receive the ticket on your behalf and retain it
for your arrival. We will deliver the ticket to that person on production
of the e-mail/fax from you, quoting the PNR Number / Transaction ID of the
ticket.

Thanks for showing interest in our site please note, please note that you
have two options
1. You can collect your tickets from our "Operation Center" which is in
New Delhi and for this you have to mention the delivery address as:-

C/o IRCTC
New Delhi- 110055.

And, you have to come for the collection of your ticket at our Operation
Center which address is given below:-

IRCTC (Operation Centre)
New Delhi Reservation Office,
IRCA Buildings, Chelmsford Road,
New Delhi 110055.

Kindly send us a mail also after booking your ticket so we can hold your
ticket at our office only. Please mention the Pnr.No and the Transaction
Id.

Regards
Sushil
care@irctc.co.in
www.irctc.co.in