Agra to Kolkata overnight train (2316)

Spanky

I'll be travelling by train overnight from Agra to Kolkata on Monday, 10-Dec. Instead of taking the daily JU HWH SUPERFAST (2308) I think I will take the ANANYA EXPRESS (2316) which only runs on Mondays. It takes an extra 2 hrs but has nice afternoon departure and arrival times.

Couple questions:

1) Anyone taken the 2316? Any pecuilarities to look out for? This is a 23 hr trip and my first long distance Indian train journey so just curious.

2) Train 2316 arrives at Sealdah station in Kolkata instead of Howrah station. Seems Sealdah is actually better located for getting into the city?

3) On http://www.indianrail.gov.in/, train 2316 shows a '+' in the train name. Can't figure out what this means??

Thanks!!!

steven_ber

I wouldn't take train 2316, I'm sure the journey would be fine, but there's a better alternative.

A bus.....only joking.

Train 2382 departs Tundla Junction at 20:40 and gets to Howrah at 16:45 (1A, 2A, 3A, SL.)

Tundla is about 23kms from Agra.

Train 2316 is slightly risky for a couple of reasons, 1, it is a single rake train, only one set of carriages operate this train in both directions, so if there is a big problem delaying it in any direction there may be a knock-on effect.

2, train 2316 passes through many different routes, Udaipur-Chittaurgarh, Chitt-Ajmer, Ajmer-Jaipur, Jaipur-Sawai Madhoppur, Sawai-Bayana, Bayana-Agra-Tundla, at least 2 of those routes are very busy, thus increasing the chance of delay.

Train 2382 starts from Delhi.

Another thing about 2382, it arrives at the mighty Howrah station, a great introduction to Kolkata, the station has to be seen to be believed, a wonderful place.


Another alternative if the timings appeal....

Train 2312 departs Tundla Junction at 11:03 and gets to Howrah at 07:10 (1A, 2A, 3A, SL.)
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The + sign on the Indian Railway website means that there is also another train with a similar number, for example, JU HWH SUPERFAST (2308) is also BKN HWH SUPERFAST (2308A) because one portion of the train starts in Jodhpur, the other portion starts in Bikaner, the trains are connected at Merta Road station. (and either portion can be booked from Agra to Howrah)

However, I've noticed many, many mistakes regarding these + signs on the website, but they're not important.

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jyotirmoy

Good suggestion Steven. 5 PM is peak rush time in Kolkata so if you are going towards Sudder street and don't have heavy luggage go to the steamer pier and take a ferry to Babughat. From Babughat you can take a cab for the relatively small distance to Sudder street.
Another way that I personally might have chosen is to come to Delhi and take the comfortable Rajdhani.

Spanky

steven_ber - Sh*t that's good info about 2316. I would certainly not have known these details. Any idea how one gets from Agra to Tundla Junction?

jyotirmoy - This is not a bad idea. Looks I could catch the 2325 from AGC at 09:55, arrive at NDLS at 13:20, then catch the Rajdhani at 17:00. Only downside is 3.5 hrs grovelling in the ND station.

BTW, when I do a 'Trains between Imp Stations' search and input AGC to NDLS, 2625 is not found. Confusing.

Thanks guys!

steven_ber

Very short of time, so just fast reply.

Don't book Agra to Delhi, the reliable trains don't run at the time you need, the others come from a long way away so can't be relied upon.

Buy a 2nd class unreserved ticket to Delhi, then board the first train and upgrade.

Getting to Tundla should be easy, it's a direct, important road, so there should be loads of buses, or get a cab, I've got a list of local trains but no time to check just now.

If you want to get a Rajdhani, you should consider going from Agra Fort, or better still Tundla to Kanpur Central, then take the Rajdhani from there.

Hold on....

The Gomti Express (2420) is said to be a good train, it departs Tundla daily at 16:03 and gets to Kanpur Central at 19:55 (1A, 2A, CC, 2S.)

Train 2302 (Kolkata Rajdhani) departs Kanpur Central at 21:45 and gets to Howrah at 09:55 (1A, 2A, 3A.)

Just enough time at Kanpur to tease the touts, buy a local paper and have a few Cowenpore chais. (I'm sure the place used to called Cowenpore or something similar, so that will be your 'indiamike task', to take a photo of something with the old name on it. )

Khak

There is also a train - Chambal Express (2178) - that departs from Agra Cantt on Mondays. (10 Dec is Monday). Other three days ( Tue, Thu, Sat) it departs from Gwalior.

The train reaches Howrah early morning (6:30 am)and is normaly on time and tickets are easily available for this train. I have travelled on this train many times between MGS & HWH.

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Khak

I worked in Kanpur for 2 years, hence my 2 pence on CAWNPUR

1> don't rely on GOMTI EXPRESS to catch a connecting train. Although a superfast train in a short route, it can be late by 5-6 hours without notice

2> KANPUR was spelled CAWNPUR by British people. It was once called Manchester of East because of cotton mills. Now all that remians are imposing factory buildings and rusting machinery. However there are some other indutries (edible oil, manufacturing, automibile etc)running in Kanpur

Spanky

I would like to take the Radjhani (2302) to Howrah now that you guys mention it. Only question is how to get on it from Agra.

1) Train 5631 BME GHY EXPRESS dep Agra Fort at 13:30 and arr Kanpur Central at 19:00. Guessing the 5631 is a bad idea given its far off source? If so, I see no decent options for Agra or Tundla to Kanpur to join the Rajdhani at 21:45.

2) My guidebook recommends the 2625 KERALA EXPRESS for mid-day train from Agra to Delhi. Is this reliable for catching the Radjhani at 17:00 from Delhi?

3) Maybe I should hire a driver to get me to Delhi in the afternoon?

4) Or maybe I should just go back to the original idea - 2308 from Agra to Howrah despite the wretched dep and arr times.

Confused. Thanks again.

steven_ber

I'm surprised to hear the Gomti express can run so late, but a local person will always know better than me, a friend took this train a few months ago and it was 20 minutes late.

If not the Gomti Express, get a taxi to Delhi.

The guidebook advice is crazy, but typical, they expect one person to get information on every topic for a city, they should have all the transport options (for the whole guidebook) looked over by someone who has more experience or knowledge on the subject.

The scheduled times of train 2625 look good, but consider that it left Trivandrum 47 hours earlier, I try to allow 10-15% of total journey time for delays, so wouldn't be surprised it 2635 arrived at Agra 4 hours late.

jyotirmoy

Plenty of buses from Agra to Delhi, including deluxe Aircon service run by Up Roadways. As Steven says don't rely on that long distance train. If any guide book is suggesting this train shun the book.
Limited quota in Rajdhani at Kanpur, so boarding it at Delhi is a better choice.

steven_ber

This train is becoming more attractive again.

You'd have to leave Agra at about 11:30 - 12 to be sure of catching the Rajdhani, that would get you into Kolkata by 10:00.

You'd have to leave Agra at about 19:30 to get to Tundla for train 2382, and you'd get to Kolkata at 16:45.

Khak

Gomti runs between Lucknow & Delhi. Departs from Lucknow early morning and same rake departs from Delhi in afternoon - hence the delay specially Delhi-Lucknow return.

Except in winters when the delay may be abnormal due to fog, there is single rake for the train.

I owuld suggest taking train from Delhi rather than Kanpur.The train I mentioned in previous post (Agra-Howrah Chambal Express) is a very reliable train.

Bhaswaran

Just to note that Agra-Howrah Chambal Express is a weekly train and you have to spend more time in train, as it goes all the way to Gwalior-Jhansi-Mahoba-Manikpur and then to Allahabad, and then to Howrah.

I believe the Poorva Express as recommended by Steven is to be taken from Tundla, is the best bet to save time, if not Rajdhani from Delhi.

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Khak

Poorva is a very good option....... i missed out that

Spanky

Let's see if I can summarize all of this great info into the viable options:

1) JU HWH SUPERFAST (2308) from Agra Fort to Howrah.
Dep 06:45
Arr 04:00

2) POORVA EXPRESS (2382) from Tundla JN to Howrah.
Dep 20:25
Arr 16:45

3) Get 2nd class unreserved ticket for Agra Cantt to Delhi. Get on next train to ND station, upgrade if desired by paying guy in charge of carriage. Catch RADJHANI EXP (2302) to Howrah.
Dep 17:00
Arr 09:55

4) Same as #3 but use taxi or bus to get to Delhi.

5) Chambal Express (2178) from Agra Cantt to Howrah.
Dep 05:10
Arr 06:30

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The 2308 and 2178 are simplest. The 2178 is pretty long and makes a million stops though. Is the 2308 reliable?

The 2382 sounds good. Would have to get road transport to Tundla JN though.

I think I will go with Steven's idea - #3. Take random train to ND then Radjhani. I fear going Agra to Delhi by road because of possibility for delays due to fog or whatever. Arriving in Kolkata at 09:55 is perfect. Sun is up, can go straight to hotel and check in.

Thanks you guys. What a great forum, and man I have a headache.