Booking Indian Rail tickets from abroad: A Beginner’s Guide

steven_ber · Jan 8th, 2006, 19:27

There is a phone number you can ring, it's all computerised so no explaining needed.

I can't remember the number, but Beach knows.

jerrye233 · Jan 8th, 2006, 22:52

Mikewill,

I'm curious about your booking in advance to Ooty that you did. Did that include the cog railway i.e. Mettapalaiyam to Ooty. I wanted to go the opposite direction 3 weeks ago. No problem going Ooty to Coonor, but to go to Metalaiyam, getting at the Ooty station at 7 am only go you on the waitlist.

mikewill · Jan 9th, 2006, 01:54

Hi jerrye

I may have caused a little confusion here. Of course, the internet system hadn't started in 2003, but we were almost as lucky then. We flew into Chennai (for a three week trip) and went along to Central Station the same day. I had worked out what trains we wanted to catch and when, so we just went to the tourist booking office (up the stairs at the end of the building I think), filled in the forms, waited a short while to be seen and had all our tickets and reservations about 20 minutes later. I do remember that the lady who helped us said something like "Now, let's see if we can book this one" when it came to the Nilagiri express. But sure enough, it was OK and when we arived at Mettupalayam we were in seats 1 & 2 - so had good views of the elephants on the line that stopped the train briefly.

We arrived in Mettupalayam by a slightly unusual route from Madurai, having gone first to Erode and then picked up the overnight train from Chennai, which arrives at just the right time to catch the little blue steamer. It saved having to spend a day in Mettupalayam or Coimbatore.

Six and a half days to go ...

jerrye233 · Jan 9th, 2006, 09:54

That's great that you could do that, and for the Darjeeling trip. I wanted to make that trip years ago, but after 33 years, I decided that my pilgrimage back to India would have to include the Pondy ashram and Auroville. It was unrecogizable. Then I went to Mysore and took the bus from there to Ooty, retracing the path that a German guy I met at the ashram and I took back then. I figured if the train was a hastle this time, I'd hire a driver to retrace the road trip we took between Ooty and whereever (toward) Metapalaiyam. We took this funny stuff (It was the only time on the 13 month trip) that came in a pill form. I did see some of the road this time, but the driver took me on an alternate road going high through the tea estates. Get me talking about India, and I can't stop. So where are you going exactly in 6 1/2 days?

mikewill · Jan 9th, 2006, 23:54

Possibly final itinerary attached - though sadly Namdapha may not happen, in which case we'll spend more time in Assam and perhaps Meghalaya.

It's the 30th anniversary of my first trip this year; haven't dared to go back to Goa yet.

Five days and counting ...

LindaK · Jan 10th, 2006, 04:31

I had been under the impression that I could not book the train from Metupalaiyam to Ooty (or vice versa) until the day of the journey (or so I was told my an Indiamiker a month or two ago). Since Mikewill said (above) that he was able to book it in advance, I decided to give it a try.
This morning, I successfully booked (online) two seats on train 661 from Ooty to Metupalaiayam (first class - FC). There was plenty of availability in mid-February in this direction. In the other direction some dates had availability and a few were wait listed.
Now I have a question. I believe the best views are to be had on the right side going from Ooty to Metupalaiyam. Right? I have seats 9 and 10. Does anyone know which side they are on?

mikewill · Jan 10th, 2006, 04:42

Hi LindaK

Our seats (1 & 2) were on the left side of the train. I'm pretty sure they were just four across, so the first compartment will be 1-4 and 5-8. That would make 9 and 10 on the left hand side, with your back to the front of the train. Compartments are pretty small with a door on both sides between the two rows of seats. The engine is at the rear of this train and a flag man sits on the front of the carriage so that he can signal to the driver if there's a problem (like elephants!) You will have plenty of time to get off and have a wander around at the stops en route.

It's a great trip - just remember how long it takes.

Mike

rcreeker · Jan 22nd, 2006, 07:14

Hi Mikewill
I am taken with your idea of going to Ooty from Madurai via Erode. What can you tell me about Erode? Did you have to spend the night there or did you go from one train to another right away? What train do you take from Madurai?

Will we be out of luck for 3 tickets on the toy train in Mid Feb if we wait to book til we get to india on Feb 6?

vsp27759 · Jan 23rd, 2006, 16:26

Dear rcreeker,
Extract from the schedule of 6731 Tuticorin-Bangalore Express:-
----
13 MDU MADURAI JN 1 19:30 19:40 159 1
14 SDN SHOLAVANDAN 1 20:04 20:05 181 1
15 KQN KODAIKANAL ROAD 1 20:28 20:30 200 1
16 DG DINDIGUL JN 1 21:15 21:20 225 1
17 KRR KARUR 1 22:35 22:40 299 1
18 PGR PUGALUR 1 22:54 22:55 314 1
19 KMD KODUMUDI 1 23:09 23:10 326 1
20 URL UNJALUR 1 23:19 23:20 332 1
21 ED ERODE JN 1 00:05 00:15 365 2
============================== ==========
Extract from the schedule of 2671 Chennai-Mettupalayam Nilgiri Express:-
---
ED ERODE JN 1 02:25 02:30 396 2
6 TUP TIRUPPUR 1 03:14 03:15 446 2
7 CBF COIMBATORE NRTH 1 04:09 04:10 494 2
8 CBE COIMBATORE JN 1 05:00 05:15 497 2
9 MTP METUPALAIYAM 1 06:15 00:00 532 2
==============
If you are able to use these two trains, then you can avail the 661 Mettupalayam - Ootcamund Mountain Train.
============================== ================
If you want to reach Coimbatore by night and then take next day morning Mountain Train from Mettupalayam, then, perhaps, you may take the following trains:-
------------------
Extract of 6340 (TUE/WED/THU/SAT):
........
MDU MADURAI JN 1 11:35 11:45 230 1
10 KQN KODAIKANAL ROAD 1 12:24 12:25 271 1
11 DG DINDIGUL JN 1 13:00 13:05 296 1
12 KRR KARUR 1 14:20 14:25 370 1
13 URL UNJALUR 1 14:59 15:00 403 1
14 ED ERODE JN 1 15:30 15:45 436 1
-------------------------------------------------
Extract of 6627:-
...........
10 ED ERODE JN 1 17:40 17:50 396 1
11 TUP TIRUPPUR 1 18:34 18:35 446 1
12 CBE COIMBATORE JN 1 19:45 19:50 497 1
============================== ==========
V.Srinivasa Prasad
23.1.2006/16.35 hrs.

Prerna · Jan 24th, 2006, 20:27

Hi all,

I must admit I did not go through the whole thread, and I count on your tolerance, because I already spent hours and hours since 2 days to get myself an i-ticket booked (instead of e-ticket as basically wished).

My question is: will the ticket be delivered, given I gave my hotel address, where I will be on Saturday evening?

Anyone knows why I could not book with my Master Card? (Customer Services told me it's because it is not a "Master Secure", as per their email pasted below, but Eurocard told me they have no idea what they mean to say)?

Quote:

Dear Customer,

Kindly note that your card is not master secure card and for booking e-ticket your card should be master secure. Please try to book i-ticket.

Regards
Rishi Raj
care@irctc.co.in
www.irctc.co.in

adrianh · Jan 26th, 2006, 12:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikewill

Asked to have tickets sent to IRCTC on Chelmsford Road and got an email back almost by return, confirming they are holding them for us.

Mike

Mike,
did you receive a confirmation from them that they hold the tickets for you? i booked tickets for trips in feb/mar but so far received only confirmation of booking details. is there something in that email that i missed?
adrian

az012 · Jan 27th, 2006, 17:06

Is there a problem booking e-tickets by credit card from the UK? I've now tried about 15 times and every time it just won't let me proceed. Every time it either can't find the webpage or it says there is a failed transaction.

IRTC have emailed me a suggested it might be a problem with my credit card, but I've phoned both my Visa and Mastercard companies and they haven't even received any request for a payment.

It's getting very frustrating! Can anyone suggest another route?

P.S. I want to book Delhi-Amritsar, Delhi-Agra and Goa-Mumbai tickets for March.

SHIMLA · Jan 27th, 2006, 17:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by az012

Is there a problem booking e-tickets by credit card from the UK? I've now tried about 15 times and every time it just won't let me proceed. Every time it either can't find the webpage or it says there is a failed transaction.

IRTC have emailed me a suggested it might be a problem with my credit card, but I've phoned both my Visa and Mastercard companies and they haven't even received any request for a payment.

It's getting very frustrating! Can anyone suggest another route?

P.S. I want to book Delhi-Amritsar, Delhi-Agra and Goa-Mumbai tickets for March.

Look at post no. 190 above by Prerna. You may be having a similar problem with your card not being "Master secure", whatever that may mean ! However, you may go ahead and book an I-ticket, instead of an E-ticket.

guerik · Feb 8th, 2006, 06:04

Just a quick question - if the waitlist is something like WL39/WL7, what does this mean and how can I get into the WL 7 line?
Have had a quick look around the site but can't find much to help me on this one.

Otherwise how do you like my chances of moving up 30 places on the waitlist on a train between Delhi and New Jalpaiguri (for travel in about 1.5 mths time)?

guerik · Feb 8th, 2006, 07:13

Great, thank you for that.. much appreciated

Jan 8th, 2006, 19:27	#181
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,211	There is a phone number you can ring, it's all computerised so no explaining needed. I can't remember the number, but Beach knows. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information.

Jan 27th, 2006, 17:06	#192
az012 azdamian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cambridge, England Posts: 2	E-tickets Is there a problem booking e-tickets by credit card from the UK? I've now tried about 15 times and every time it just won't let me proceed. Every time it either can't find the webpage or it says there is a failed transaction. IRTC have emailed me a suggested it might be a problem with my credit card, but I've phoned both my Visa and Mastercard companies and they haven't even received any request for a payment. It's getting very frustrating! Can anyone suggest another route? P.S. I want to book Delhi-Amritsar, Delhi-Agra and Goa-Mumbai tickets for March.

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Jan 8th, 2006, 22:52	#182
jerrye233 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: temple city, calif, USA Posts: 54	Mikewill, I'm curious about your booking in advance to Ooty that you did. Did that include the cog railway i.e. Mettapalaiyam to Ooty. I wanted to go the opposite direction 3 weeks ago. No problem going Ooty to Coonor, but to go to Metalaiyam, getting at the Ooty station at 7 am only go you on the waitlist.

Jan 9th, 2006, 01:54	#183
mikewill Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Exeter, England Posts: 276	Hi jerrye I may have caused a little confusion here. Of course, the internet system hadn't started in 2003, but we were almost as lucky then. We flew into Chennai (for a three week trip) and went along to Central Station the same day. I had worked out what trains we wanted to catch and when, so we just went to the tourist booking office (up the stairs at the end of the building I think), filled in the forms, waited a short while to be seen and had all our tickets and reservations about 20 minutes later. I do remember that the lady who helped us said something like "Now, let's see if we can book this one" when it came to the Nilagiri express. But sure enough, it was OK and when we arived at Mettupalayam we were in seats 1 & 2 - so had good views of the elephants on the line that stopped the train briefly. We arrived in Mettupalayam by a slightly unusual route from Madurai, having gone first to Erode and then picked up the overnight train from Chennai, which arrives at just the right time to catch the little blue steamer. It saved having to spend a day in Mettupalayam or Coimbatore. Six and a half days to go ...

Jan 9th, 2006, 09:54	#184
jerrye233 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: temple city, calif, USA Posts: 54	That's great that you could do that, and for the Darjeeling trip. I wanted to make that trip years ago, but after 33 years, I decided that my pilgrimage back to India would have to include the Pondy ashram and Auroville. It was unrecogizable. Then I went to Mysore and took the bus from there to Ooty, retracing the path that a German guy I met at the ashram and I took back then. I figured if the train was a hastle this time, I'd hire a driver to retrace the road trip we took between Ooty and whereever (toward) Metapalaiyam. We took this funny stuff (It was the only time on the 13 month trip) that came in a pill form. I did see some of the road this time, but the driver took me on an alternate road going high through the tea estates. Get me talking about India, and I can't stop. So where are you going exactly in 6 1/2 days?

Jan 10th, 2006, 04:31	#186
LindaK Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Toronto Posts: 132	I had been under the impression that I could not book the train from Metupalaiyam to Ooty (or vice versa) until the day of the journey (or so I was told my an Indiamiker a month or two ago). Since Mikewill said (above) that he was able to book it in advance, I decided to give it a try. This morning, I successfully booked (online) two seats on train 661 from Ooty to Metupalaiayam (first class - FC). There was plenty of availability in mid-February in this direction. In the other direction some dates had availability and a few were wait listed. Now I have a question. I believe the best views are to be had on the right side going from Ooty to Metupalaiyam. Right? I have seats 9 and 10. Does anyone know which side they are on?

Jan 10th, 2006, 04:42	#187
mikewill Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Exeter, England Posts: 276	Hi LindaK Our seats (1 & 2) were on the left side of the train. I'm pretty sure they were just four across, so the first compartment will be 1-4 and 5-8. That would make 9 and 10 on the left hand side, with your back to the front of the train. Compartments are pretty small with a door on both sides between the two rows of seats. The engine is at the rear of this train and a flag man sits on the front of the carriage so that he can signal to the driver if there's a problem (like elephants!) You will have plenty of time to get off and have a wander around at the stops en route. It's a great trip - just remember how long it takes. Mike

Jan 22nd, 2006, 07:14	#188
rcreeker Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: canada Posts: 75	Hi Mikewill I am taken with your idea of going to Ooty from Madurai via Erode. What can you tell me about Erode? Did you have to spend the night there or did you go from one train to another right away? What train do you take from Madurai? Will we be out of luck for 3 tickets on the toy train in Mid Feb if we wait to book til we get to india on Feb 6?

Jan 23rd, 2006, 16:26	#189
vsp27759 V.SRINIVASA PRASAD Join Date: May 2005 Location: HYDERABAD Posts: 1,464	Dear rcreeker, Extract from the schedule of 6731 Tuticorin-Bangalore Express:- ---- 13 MDU MADURAI JN 1 19:30 19:40 159 1 14 SDN SHOLAVANDAN 1 20:04 20:05 181 1 15 KQN KODAIKANAL ROAD 1 20:28 20:30 200 1 16 DG DINDIGUL JN 1 21:15 21:20 225 1 17 KRR KARUR 1 22:35 22:40 299 1 18 PGR PUGALUR 1 22:54 22:55 314 1 19 KMD KODUMUDI 1 23:09 23:10 326 1 20 URL UNJALUR 1 23:19 23:20 332 1 21 ED ERODE JN 1 00:05 00:15 365 2 ============================== ========== Extract from the schedule of 2671 Chennai-Mettupalayam Nilgiri Express:- --- ED ERODE JN 1 02:25 02:30 396 2 6 TUP TIRUPPUR 1 03:14 03:15 446 2 7 CBF COIMBATORE NRTH 1 04:09 04:10 494 2 8 CBE COIMBATORE JN 1 05:00 05:15 497 2 9 MTP METUPALAIYAM 1 06:15 00:00 532 2 ============== If you are able to use these two trains, then you can avail the 661 Mettupalayam - Ootcamund Mountain Train. ============================== ================ If you want to reach Coimbatore by night and then take next day morning Mountain Train from Mettupalayam, then, perhaps, you may take the following trains:- ------------------ Extract of 6340 (TUE/WED/THU/SAT): ........ MDU MADURAI JN 1 11:35 11:45 230 1 10 KQN KODAIKANAL ROAD 1 12:24 12:25 271 1 11 DG DINDIGUL JN 1 13:00 13:05 296 1 12 KRR KARUR 1 14:20 14:25 370 1 13 URL UNJALUR 1 14:59 15:00 403 1 14 ED ERODE JN 1 15:30 15:45 436 1 ------------------------------------------------- Extract of 6627:- ........... 10 ED ERODE JN 1 17:40 17:50 396 1 11 TUP TIRUPPUR 1 18:34 18:35 446 1 12 CBE COIMBATORE JN 1 19:45 19:50 497 1 ============================== ========== V.Srinivasa Prasad 23.1.2006/16.35 hrs.

Feb 8th, 2006, 06:04	#194
guerik Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1,038	Just a quick question - if the waitlist is something like WL39/WL7, what does this mean and how can I get into the WL 7 line? Have had a quick look around the site but can't find much to help me on this one. Otherwise how do you like my chances of moving up 30 places on the waitlist on a train between Delhi and New Jalpaiguri (for travel in about 1.5 mths time)?

Feb 8th, 2006, 07:13	#195
guerik Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 1,038	Great, thank you for that.. much appreciated

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