Boarding a train a later stop than booked for...?

zoso_exile

I have a seat on the Vaigal Exp leaving Chennai Egmore this Friday for Madurai... it would actually be more convenient I have found to board at Chengalpattu because I'll be going from Mamallapuram. Whats the best way to amend my train ticket? A long shot... but can it be done online or over the phone?? I booked with cleartrip. Otherwise, how easy is it to get from Mamallapuram to Egmore... where do the Chennai-bound buses from Mamallapuram stop?

Thanks!

gaurav1441

You will have to get down at Guindy and take another bus, auto or train from Guindy.

zoso_exile

Thanks, is there not also a regular service between Mamallapuram and Tambaram (this is how I was planning to reach Mamallapuram from Chennai Airport)?

Has anyone had experience change the point of boarding on a train ticket?

gaurav1441

Yes there are services. You wil lhave to take a train or bus to Tambram and them take the bus to Mallamapuram.

ribhu95

For change of boarding, you need to give a written request at a railway reservation centre....they will incorporate the change of boarding and acknowledge to you..

I am not sure if this is done through a e-request.....you can try writing to any relevant email ids on indianrail.gov.in and / or irctc.co.in..

The sureshot way is to provide a request in person at the reservation centre...if you would have someone to do it for you.

cheers

ribhu

zoso_exile

Thanks, the irctc website says as following:

"For getting these facilities, customer can now approach the nearest Railway Reservation Office with ‘Electronic
Reservation Slip’ print out and photo identity proof of one of the passanger traveling in the ticket at least 24 hours before
the scheduled departure of train as per extant Railway rules."
http://www.irctc.co.in/Eticket_new_cancel.html

Here is my plan: I will arrive at Chennai International Airport at 5am and take the MRTS to Tambaram where I will change the train ticket to allow me to board at Chengalpattu. I will take bus S515 from Tambaram to Mamallapuram (see here. The following day I will take a bus from Mamallapuram to Chengalpattu, which I understand are quite regular. Can anyone see any problems with this? Apart from the fact that such a clear plan is destined to failure in India?

Cheers

ribhu95

It is designed to fail.........

The reservation offices open @ 8.00 AM and not before that.

Having said that, please do check indianrail.gov.in website...also, any other IMer can help...there is bound to be a railway reservation office in Mamallapuram or so...

Let us hope someone knowledgeable on this aspect comes along and tells you the nearest railway reservation centre in Mamallapuram.

ribhu

gaurav1441

Theres no issue as such. Just search for the bus timings from Mallamapuram to Chengalpattu. 515 has a good frequency from Tambaram.

It would help to locate Subway to MRTS station in a map because near airport there is one board for direction.

Also, Hope you are arriving during the early morning not during the night.

ribhu95

http://www.indianrail.gov.in/tamilnadu.html

This link says there is a railway reservation centre in Mahabalipuram (same as mamallapuram). You should be able to do it there....

as long as you are meeting the time criteria et al.

ribhu

zoso_exile

Great, thanks for the replies. My train won't leave Chengalpattu until 1pm the following day so I should easily make the 24 hour deadline for change of boarding. The only bit of information that is sorely lacking online is the availability of buses between Mamallapuram and Chengalpattu, but what I have read suggests this won't be a problem.

Thanks again, I didn't think Mamallapuram would have a railway office.

ribhu95

Zoso,

You should not worry about buses between Mamallapuram and Chengalpattu...Tamil Nadu is pretty well connected in terms of bus services........You will get good, fast connections even if not a direct service..

all the best

ribhu