Agra to Delhi

asid

If anyone could help me out, I would really appreciate it.
I am trying to book a train from Agra to Delhi for Jan. 7th.
The response from the website is that no trains are available.
I assume I'm putting the wrong information in.
What are the proper station names?
Is first class available, if not, which class do I request?
Thanks. Booking the trains can get frustrating!

jyotirmoy

Choose AGRA CANTT as the starting point and New Delhi as destination.
2279 +TAJ EXPRESS *AGRA CANTT 18:55 H NIZAMUDDIN 22:00
2001 NDLS SHATABDI EXP *AGRA CANTT 20:30 NEW DELHI 22:30

asid

Thank you. I'm not too happy with the train schedule so I am now considering hiring a driver to take me from Agra to Delhi. Do you know the best way to go about doing that?

Mickey S

There are many trains between Agra and Delhi, at all hours of the day - have you actually looked at the timetable?

nedhopkins

The train is much faster, much safer, much less expensive, and -- especially the Shatabdi -- much more comfortable.

If you insist on going by automobile, your hotel will be able to arrange a car and driver -- or you can ask at the train station. The cost could vary from Rs4,000 to Rs8,000.

beachfan

Hi!

Thanks to all who have posted such great info on booking via the web, I successfully used the site and understand what I have!

I'm going Agra Cantt - Delhi on Jan 10 (13:40). My preferred train has me and my wife RLWL1 and RLWL2. The train is the Samta Express, which originates in Visakhapatnam.

Since we'll be going to the Taj at dawn that morning, I didn't want to wait until the Shatabdi Express at 20:30. But it does have availability, and is scheduled for a full hour less travel time.

My question is whether I can pretty much count on clearing the list, or should I just switch to the Shatabdi? I'd rather take the afternoon train and have my first evening in Delhi but I don't like stressing about clearing the list.

Any guesses on the likelihood of clearing?

Thanks in advance!

steven_ber

There is the following availability for the same train....

10- 1-2008,
Sleeper Class = AVAILABLE- 0006
3-tier air con = AVAILABLE- 0002

Though there's a very good chance your 2-tier tickets will get confirmed.

Find the phone number to see if your train is running to time (133?), maybe your hotel owner will have the number, you can also find if your train is running to time on the internet, though the cowboys in Agra will try to charge you Rs80 an hour (should be 10-15).

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How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions.



Train information.

IndiaJim

I find that if you're willing to pay the 1st class fare you can get on just about any train anywhere, why book in advance and restrict yourself to places and times. First class is never fully booked.

steven_ber

Hello IndiaJim and welcome to indiamike.com

Like your photos.

Unfortunately, first class (AC or non AC) is rarely an option on trains.

Though I tend to agree with you, particularly for short journeys, and more so for Agra to Delhi, just turning up at Agra Cant station and buying an unreserved 2nd class ticket, then go to the first Delhi bound express and find the train man (usually in the air con carriages) and ask him to upgrade your ticket, but do this before the train departs or you take the risk of being fined.

Most of the Delhi bound trains are long distance trains and may run late, so booking a particular train can work against you some times, also, many people get off these trains at Agra, this can help a lot of berths become available, particularly in the higher classes.

IndiaJim

Yes, beware that if you get in First Class with a 2nd Class ticket you will be fined. We got a train out of Bandra and didn't have a ticket at all (booking office wasn't in the station but up the road) We jumped on 2nd Class Sleeper and were duly fined Rs250/- plus the proper fare..... Oops, that hurt, there was no sympathy that we'd just arrived in India that morning. However after that we always travel 2nd Sleeper, rarely with a booked ticket. I should pay half fare because I am always in a doorway half in an half out!

beachfan

Excellent points about the train running late. I suppose if I wait until the day of departure to change the ticket, I lose some of the ticket value?

And is the Shatabdi Express more punctual since it originates much closer to Agra?

Thanks again.

Beachfan

steven_ber

Yes, I think it's 50%.

Yes the Shatabdi should be more punctual, but bear in mind that fog can seriously delay any train, and fog could well be a problem on 10th Jan.

About 10 days ago I got a train from Jabalpur (about halfway to Visakhapatnam), I got the train to Agra, it arrived in Agra over 3 hours late.

monika b

hi all...
am a newbie, so nice to meet y all..

"
unreserved 2nd class ticket, then go to the first Delhi bound express"

does this means if i got an unreserved 2nd class ticket i can pretty much use tat tix to board any train going to delhi?

I'm planning to take the shatabadi express in the morn to see taj but not really keen to hang around in agra till night hence catching the shatabadi back to delhi is not really my first choice. Hoping to get back to delhi before dark, since i'll be travelling on my own and it's my first india trip

steven_ber

Hello and welcome to indiamike.com

Yes, and no. (this is India )

First, there are 3 types (probably more) of unreserved 2nd class ticket.

1, unreserved 2nd class ticket - you ask for this, and you'll be given this, it's basically a ticket for the slower 'passenger' trains and not for the faster express or superfast trains, 'passenger' train fares are considerably cheaper than other trains, though they often only have unreserved 2nd class and can be crowded, you can't travel in an express (or mail), or a superfast train with one of these tickets.

2, unreserved 2nd class (express) ticket - these are slightly more expensive and allow you to travel in of express or mail trains (as well as passenger trains)('Mail' trains are more or less just another name for express trains, eg. The Darjeeling Mail), but you can't travel in a superfast train (any train that has 4 numbers, the first number being a 2).

3, unreserved 2nd class (superfast) ticket - this is an express ticket with the superfast charge added, if you have one of these tickets, you can travel in the 2nd class unreserved carriages of all of the above trains (not sure about Rajdhani trains).

For all of the above tickets, just queue up at the (unreserved) ticket window and ask for an unreserved 2nd class ticket to delhi, then say "Express" or "Superfast" (Go for superfast).

Note- the charges for all the tickets above are small, and the amount you pay will be deducted from the cost of the upgraded ticket.


Next, can you just board any carriage....No, you need a reservation to get into a reserved carriage, with the ticket you have, you can only enter an unreserved 2nd class carriage (front and back of train and with only 'II' on the outside of the carriage, these carriages are very often far too crowded for comfort.

So, what to do....

Look for the TTE.



You'll probably find him next to the air con carriages (look for carriages without bars on the windows), find him, show him your ticket, tell him what you want to do (travel to Delhi) and what class you want to travel in (Sleeper, 3A, 2A etc.) and ask his advice, he will likely tell you to sit in a carriage and he'll find you a place (and upgrade your ticket) when the train departs.

If money isn't an issue, you could take a chance, find your own berth (a side berth in Sleeper Class is great for this short journey), then pay the fine when the TTE comes to check tickets (play the innocent foreigner and you may get away without a fine), the fine will be less than Rs500, maybe a lot less.

The above is what I'd do, I'm not saying it's the best way or the right way, but it's what I'd do. (and have done twice when trying to get from Agra to Delhi, and a few times in other areas)

The Taj Express and the Shatabdi have large numbers of foreign tourists, larger than any other sector on Indian Railways, the Shatabdi pulls into New Delhi station, right next to Paharganj (where the budget hotels are), paharganj is almost a 24-hour place, there are always loads of people around.