2 questions: "midnight" trains and waiting lists

cq1

Hi, all.

I have been in Udaipur working with a small NGO since mid-May, and I am getting excited about my 2 "vacation weeks" in July.

I have booked all of my train tickets, but I have 2 questions.

1. I have a ticket from Jaipur to Agra (no. 2308), which departs Jaipur at 1:40am, and arrives in Agra at 6:45am. I am a woman traveling alone, and want to make prudent decisions about my safety. The elderly Indian couple that I am living with here in Udaipur seems to think that this train is a very bad idea. What are your thoughts on catching a train in the middle of the night? Where would you suggest that I spend my evening (with backpack) between the hours of 10pm-1am? Should I go straight to the train station and wait it out for the night? Try to secure a "retiring room" at the station? Other thoughts?

There is an alternate train that I could take in the afternoon, provided there are still seats left.

2. I have a wait-listed ticket from Bharatpur to Delhi (no. 2925). I believe I am the first person on the waiting list. My ticket says RWLW/1. I have read some of the posts on wait lists in the forum, but honestly - I am still confused. Should I try to book a back-up ticket, or just assume that I'll get on this train? If I bought my ticket in person at the railway station, how can I confirm whether I am on the train or not?

Thanks in advance for the assistance!

vsp27759

The following is the schedule of 2925 for Bharatpur-New Delhi stretch:
---
23 BTE BHARATPUR JN 1 06:33 06:35 1199 2
24 MTJ MATHURA JN 1 07:48 07:50 1233 2
25 FDB FARIDABAD 1 09:46 09:48 1345 2
26 TKD TUGLAKABAD 1 09:56 09:58 1356 2 Train doesn't halt at this station, presently
27 NZM H NIZAMUDDIN 1 10:28 10:30 1366 2
28 NDLS NEW DELHI 1 10:50 11:10 1373 2
------------
##In which "Class" have you been waitlisted?

##Do you have confirmed reservation in 2308? If so in which Class?

wonderwomanusa

You didn't see what class ticket you have booked, but if you have to wait at the station late into the night, see if you can get into the "first class ladies' waiting room." It's a little quieter than the platform and I always felt safe in those.

ashvin30

Jaipur is quite a tourist friendly city. Enjoy your evening & reach the station at any time without any hitch.

In case your ticket is still wait listed upon arrival of the train, approach the train Conductor and ask if there is any vacancy. And if you want to be sure, go ahead with a back up tkt.

cq1

Thanks for the replies.

1. Bharatpur/Delhi Travel -
I don't have my ticket with me at the moment, but I'm pretty sure that it's for 2AC. I tried to ask if there was a chair car, or other seat available, but either the man at the ticket counter didn't understand, or there wasn't anything else available. We were having some communication challenges.

Is there a way to check in advance to see if I am off the wait list?

2. Thanks for the tip about the first class ladies waiting room - I'll see if that's an option. I'm assuming I should just ask at the ticket counter at the Jaipur train station?

If you were trying to catch a 2am train, what time would you get to the station? I'd like to minimize my waiting time, but I figure that I won't have much else to do on my own that late in Jaipur.

Thanks again.

Baba

Use this link to find out your status: Locate the 10-digit PNR number on your ticket and type it in on the website. There should also be a phone number with a voice guide system where you can check your status (it is managable, I've done it), but I do not remember the number.

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Baba

steven_ber

Difficult, I think I'd look for a restaurant that will serve you late, a big popular restaurant, you really want to be getting to the restaurant at about 23:00 and stay there as long as you can, then get an auto to the station by about 01:00.

But the station will be safe, just the usual common sense rules apply.

I sat with the man who cleans the toilets (and charges people a couple of rupees to use them) near the entrance to the metre gauge part of Jaipur station, we sat on a blanket outside the toilets, we chated, ate and drank for about 2 hours whilst I waited for my train, one of the highlights of my last trip, the man had a great (and almost British) sense of humour, and we were 'taking the piss' out of everyone who passed.

I'm not suggesting a single woman to do this late at night, merely pointing out that there's always something to do on a large station, but WW advice about the waiting room would be your best bet.

Bharatpur-Delhi

Train 2925 starts it's journey in Mumbai, and may run late (may not), the train doesn't have Air Con Chair Class, if I were you, I'd try to book the following train, it has air con chair class (CC) and bookable 2nd class seats (2S)(OK for a short journey), the train also starts it's journey in Kota, so is likely to run close to time.

Train 2059 departs Bharatpur (daily, except sundays) at 09.27 and gets to Nizamudin at 12.25

Nizamuddin is a few kms south of New Delhi station, and I can see how arriving at Nizamuddin would appeal, but I think there is a good chance that this train will get to Delhi BEFORE train 2925.

Either way, in the morning of the journey, telephone (139 I think) to see if 2925 is running to time, it may well be a couple of hours late, and that time is better spent in your hotel than waiting on a station platform.

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cq1

thanks, all, for the advice!