Agra or Delhi to Varanasai

An Turas Mór

Hi All,

first of all i'd like to say thanks to everybody for the wealth of infomation i've taken from this site!

on 8 october myself and my girlfriend fly into delhi for our first trip to asia, never mind first time to india!!

I'm fairly well set expect for trains.

i see delhi-jaipur and jaipur-agra are free, i will book these this evening.

however id like to get from agra to varanasi around 19 Oct, returning around 24 Oct. All trains seem to be WL, is this still a viable option to book? I would also consider going back to Delhi and then onto Varanasi.

Also as a couple travelling on a train is it acceptable to share a berth, or would this be frowned upon?

Thanks,
Dermot

steven_ber

How about a late departure from Agra? (and late arrival at Varanasi)

Train 3238 departs Agra Cant station at 23:30 and gets to Varanasi at 12:35

19-10-2007 AVAILABLE- 0008 (2A)

This train starts it's journey only 50kms from Agra, so will be on time.

More time in Agra may be useful if you want to see Fathepur Sikri on the way from Jaipur to Agra, and you should enjoy the daylight hours on this train.

There is also availability (2 berths in 1A, 5 in 3A) on a better timed train from Tundla (about 25 kms from Agra).

Train 2382 departs Tundla at 20:40 and gets to Varanasi at 05:20

And 2 berths in 3A on...

Train 4006 departs Tundla at 20:54 and gets to Varanasi at 06:20
(also 2 berths in 2A and 6 in 3A using the foreign tourist quota, but you can only book the FTQ in India)

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Train information.

steven_ber

Varanasi to Delhi (24/10/07)

FTQ = Foreign tourist quota, can only be booked in India.

The first 2 trains start their journey in Varanasi, train 2381 starts from Calcutta so could be late.

Train 2457A, Varanasi 20:00, (Old)Delhi 08:55 (3A = 30 berths available)

Train 2559 Varanasi 19:15, New Delhi 07:25 (3A = 29 berths available, 2 berths available in 2A but via FTQ)

Train 2381 Varanasi 18:46 New Delhi 07:05 (2A = 3 berths available, also 11 in 3A, and 2 berths in 2A using FTQ)


If you're unable to book in 2A, book in 3A, you can always try for the FTQ when you get to Delhi, then cancel the 3A tickets.


By the way, 2 people sharing a berth is an absolute NO.

An Turas Mór

Thanks a mil for that info Steve, in the meantime herself has decided to book first class from NDLS to BSB, on the Shiv Ganga Express, costing Rs3862.
and then returning on the poorva express, in 2A. for Rs 2282

The Poorva Express gives a coach & seat # but Shiv Ganga does not, is this common practice?

ps. meeting went fine! especially considering i'm packing it all in to travel the world

atala

If it's first class AC it is chair car, airplane like reclining seats, not really the best option. You could almost fly for the price. There is probably only one AC Chair car, that is why they do not give a coach number. Be sure to bring warm clothing, as they turn on the AC to super cold, because you are paying for that. If it's non-AC first class, which does not exist much anymore, it is nice.

steven_ber

You're thinking of the Shatabdi and their Executive Chair Car, the overnight trains have First Class Air Con, consisting of 4-berth cabins and 2-berth coupes, the Shiv Ganga Express is an overnight train so has First Class AC.

First Class AC tickets will only have 'Confirmed' on them instead of a berth and carriage number, this is because the berths are only allocated when the reservation chart is prepared, this happens about 4-6 hours before the train departs, the berths are allocated at the last minute to try to help couples to travel together, or to prevent single women being placed with 3 men, and so on.

Agree, it's bloody cold in First Class AC.

My favourite class.

atala

Thanks for the corrections

An Turas Mór

on the shiv ganga express have we booked seats or berths(stupid question, aren't berths really beds?).

I thought I had a better grasp of Indian trains that I actually do!

atala

both, a numbered seat and one of the berths in the compartment

An Turas Mór

cool, so we have a seat and then a bed to go to at night?

steven_ber

The seat becomes a berth/bed, and there will be another berth above.

An Turas Mór

thanks steve and atala, sounds like we're all set

madamdarkin

hello!!

we are also planning on doing kind of the same trip...delhi - agra (stop for the day) then at night agra-varanasi and then varanasi-calcutta....any tips

An Turas Mór

hi madamdarkin, from what i've experienced so far my advice would be to book trains as far ahead as possible, the delhi-varanasi route is extremely busy.