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

michellemm · Oct 19th, 2004, 19:18

Hello guys!

I´m ging to India in February, but I´m not very much into this net reservations....

so, is it possible to try to get my tickets while I´m there? Or is it gong to be packed and already full....??

Thanks!

cyberhippie · Oct 19th, 2004, 19:24

With 2 days notice you'll get on most trains, so if your prepared to wait around for a couple of days in Mumbai or Delhi then you're on your way.
If you need to stick to an itinery book ahead!

michellemm · Oct 19th, 2004, 20:04

But the only way to make those reservations are in Mumbay and Delhi? If, for example, I want to go from Jaipur to Jodhpur and then to Jaisalmer, so when I get to Jaipur I already make my reservation Jodhpur - Jaisalmer....and so on....is that possible?

beach · Oct 19th, 2004, 20:31

Practically you can book your ticket at any reservation counter from any where to any where in advance.

For example at Chennai you can book for Mumbai-Bangalore or Delhi-Jiapur ...

On standing at the reservation queue they allow only one set of tickets(with return, if there).

As tourists, you can go to the special foreign tourists counters at major stations. There are special seat quotas reserved for foreign tourists. This is big advantage for the tourists as compared to the local travellers especially during the peak season.

michellemm · Oct 19th, 2004, 20:46

Hi Beach!!!! Thank you! Don't be mad at me...but can I ask you about my itinerary? I'm having a problem, I just can't find the way to do all this, i´'s too much information...

The places I wanted to go are:

Kalkota - Varanasi - Kahajuraho - (Nepal, Kathamdnu and Tibet, Lhasa) - Delhi - Kampur - Agra - Ladhak - Amristar - Shirinagar - Jaipur - Udaipur - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer back to Delhi and go home

, not necessarily in this order...

So, I have 44 days to do all this...I was thinking about departing from Ktm and going directly to Ladhak, but I don't know if it's worthy...and also taking some flights (the fewest flights the better, as I'm going on a budget) ....maybe from Ktm to Ladhak...I don't know....

Can you help me telling me which parts are better to go by train or by plane, around how long does it take theses journeys, etc????

Thank you ssooooo much!

beach · Oct 19th, 2004, 21:14

Most of the places you listed are connected by rail. (except the Nepal, Kathamdnu and Tibet, Lhasa )

Also it depands on howmuch time you need to spend at each place and your travel order.

Make a rough itinerary with days and post. People will comment about the viability and worth of spending time at each place.And you can re adjust it based on suggestions.Then select the right train and book in advance. If you are hard pressed for time it is better to book a set of tickets in advance (after reachig india or over net) and travel according to this plan. Train Tickets booked can be preponed/postponed (only at the resrvation counters) if seats are available at nominal rates later, if needed.

All the places in India you have listed can be covered cooly by express trains (and avoid plane). Typically your journey from one place to the next can be covered by overnight or a day & night by sleeper trains.Some are even closer.

Book Second class sleeper for long distance. It's decent and cheap. If you want a bit more comfort go for Third AC Sleeper. Alternatively, you can upgrade a class inside the train if seats are available. Pay the difference fare in side the train to the TTE(conductor).

I dont know If 44 days is a bit ambitious for all these places. Let people comment about it first

michellemm · Oct 19th, 2004, 21:20

Thanks, Beach!!

Where should I post my itinerary so people can comment?

Cheers!

Michelle

beach · Oct 19th, 2004, 21:31

Create a new theread here http://www.indiamike.com/india/forumdisplay.php?f=73 and scream Help!!!!

There are many people over here who are 'experts' in the locations you are talking about. The train thing comes last as it is not a big issues to find out the right train. One step at a time will make things bit easier for people to answer too.

BTW use the 'search' option also enough. Many of the questions you are having may be already answered. Doesnt matter people dont mind a bit of repeatition.

Phaser · Oct 27th, 2004, 07:14

Great topic guys, exactly what I was looking for!

This site helped me to no end last time I was India, and now I have another question regarding booking online.

Last year when I traveled around India, I simply did not anticipate the aweful red tape involved in the simple process of booking a ticket. Here in Melbourne, everything is automated, the process is very simple, you book, you have your ticket.

Well... wasn't I surprised to find relative Chaos once we his Chennai. Out entire itinerary changed because all the trains were booked solid where we wanted to go.

It wasn't until towards the end of the trip, that we realised with a little pocket change, the station master could get us quite comfortable seats in second class AC.

Anyway, this is all beside the point.

This time around, we're arriving in Mumbai on the 6th of December and heading down south. Steve, you mentioned you can only pick up tickets from Delhi, otherwise get them delivered to someone in India. I don't have the luxury of either.

Do you think it will be ok just to rock up at the station and hope for a seat/sleeper?

Thanks for your time

*

04274108 · Nov 1st, 2004, 22:14

Hello. Here is a resource that may help some of us newbies figure out train station codes.

http://irfca.org/faq/faq-station.html

I don't know how complete it it but it might help. I had a heck of a time trying to figure out where Lokmanya Tilak station was in Mumbai until this site explained that it is the Kurla station.

abighellofromme · Nov 12th, 2004, 16:16

am i being dumb?
how do u register?
u need an indian address right?
what address do u use ? a hotel or something that u r staying in?

cyberhippie · Nov 12th, 2004, 16:24

No you're not being dumb, it's the online registration process that is flawed!!
I take it your asking about the address for the registration purposes and not for the pick up/delivery
Anyway I'll plow on. You can enter your own home address and you can then choose your country from the drop down menu.
The sticky bit is even although you have told the form that your address is not an Indian one it still insists that you fill in the pin number field (the Indian post code) this should be for Indian addresses only but the form hasn't been designed too well and if you don't fill in a 6 digit pin number it won't register you!!
So find any old pin number from the internet and enter that or indeed I just made up a 6 figure number and it worked fine!!
Indian Railways should really get this fixed as it it a pain in the butt and I'm sure confuses many people!!
Hope that helps!!

abighellofromme · Nov 12th, 2004, 17:16

thanks cyberhippie
once again ur efforts are tremendous in helping us novices.
i will try again and see what i find

abighellofromme · Nov 12th, 2004, 17:20

cyberhippie....sorry to bother u again but what about the city and the state...all are mandatory * and they only include indian places.....even if i chose united kingdom as the country do i still have to include an indian city and state?

confuddled here

cyberhippie · Nov 12th, 2004, 17:26

If you look to the right of the drop down menus for city and state you will see another box for each of them entitled other, just fill in your town and region there you know like Leeds and Yorkshire and continue with the registration process!

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Oct 19th, 2004, 19:18	#16
michellemm Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Brazil Posts: 73	Hello guys! I´m ging to India in February, but I´m not very much into this net reservations.... so, is it possible to try to get my tickets while I´m there? Or is it gong to be packed and already full....?? Thanks!

Oct 19th, 2004, 19:24	#17
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,014	With 2 days notice you'll get on most trains, so if your prepared to wait around for a couple of days in Mumbai or Delhi then you're on your way. If you need to stick to an itinery book ahead!

Oct 19th, 2004, 20:04	#18
michellemm Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Brazil Posts: 73	But the only way to make those reservations are in Mumbay and Delhi? If, for example, I want to go from Jaipur to Jodhpur and then to Jaisalmer, so when I get to Jaipur I already make my reservation Jodhpur - Jaisalmer....and so on....is that possible?

Oct 19th, 2004, 20:31	#19
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,232	Practically you can book your ticket at any reservation counter from any where to any where in advance. For example at Chennai you can book for Mumbai-Bangalore or Delhi-Jiapur ... On standing at the reservation queue they allow only one set of tickets(with return, if there). As tourists, you can go to the special foreign tourists counters at major stations. There are special seat quotas reserved for foreign tourists. This is big advantage for the tourists as compared to the local travellers especially during the peak season.

Oct 19th, 2004, 20:46	#20
michellemm Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Brazil Posts: 73	Hi Beach!!!! Thank you! Don't be mad at me...but can I ask you about my itinerary? I'm having a problem, I just can't find the way to do all this, i´'s too much information... The places I wanted to go are: Kalkota - Varanasi - Kahajuraho - (Nepal, Kathamdnu and Tibet, Lhasa) - Delhi - Kampur - Agra - Ladhak - Amristar - Shirinagar - Jaipur - Udaipur - Jodhpur - Jaisalmer back to Delhi and go home , not necessarily in this order... So, I have 44 days to do all this...I was thinking about departing from Ktm and going directly to Ladhak, but I don't know if it's worthy...and also taking some flights (the fewest flights the better, as I'm going on a budget) ....maybe from Ktm to Ladhak...I don't know.... Can you help me telling me which parts are better to go by train or by plane, around how long does it take theses journeys, etc???? Thank you ssooooo much!

Oct 19th, 2004, 21:14	#21
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,232	Most of the places you listed are connected by rail. (except the Nepal, Kathamdnu and Tibet, Lhasa ) Also it depands on howmuch time you need to spend at each place and your travel order. Make a rough itinerary with days and post. People will comment about the viability and worth of spending time at each place.And you can re adjust it based on suggestions.Then select the right train and book in advance. If you are hard pressed for time it is better to book a set of tickets in advance (after reachig india or over net) and travel according to this plan. Train Tickets booked can be preponed/postponed (only at the resrvation counters) if seats are available at nominal rates later, if needed. All the places in India you have listed can be covered cooly by express trains (and avoid plane). Typically your journey from one place to the next can be covered by overnight or a day & night by sleeper trains.Some are even closer. Book Second class sleeper for long distance. It's decent and cheap. If you want a bit more comfort go for Third AC Sleeper. Alternatively, you can upgrade a class inside the train if seats are available. Pay the difference fare in side the train to the TTE(conductor). I dont know If 44 days is a bit ambitious for all these places. Let people comment about it first

Oct 19th, 2004, 21:20	#22
michellemm Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Brazil Posts: 73	Thanks, Beach!! Where should I post my itinerary so people can comment? Cheers! Michelle

Oct 19th, 2004, 21:31	#23
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,232	Create a new theread here http://www.indiamike.com/india/forumdisplay.php?f=73 and scream Help!!!! There are many people over here who are 'experts' in the locations you are talking about. The train thing comes last as it is not a big issues to find out the right train. One step at a time will make things bit easier for people to answer too. BTW use the 'search' option also enough. Many of the questions you are having may be already answered. Doesnt matter people dont mind a bit of repeatition.

Oct 27th, 2004, 07:14	#24
Phaser Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 5	Great topic guys, exactly what I was looking for! This site helped me to no end last time I was India, and now I have another question regarding booking online. Last year when I traveled around India, I simply did not anticipate the aweful red tape involved in the simple process of booking a ticket. Here in Melbourne, everything is automated, the process is very simple, you book, you have your ticket. Well... wasn't I surprised to find relative Chaos once we his Chennai. Out entire itinerary changed because all the trains were booked solid where we wanted to go. It wasn't until towards the end of the trip, that we realised with a little pocket change, the station master could get us quite comfortable seats in second class AC. Anyway, this is all beside the point. This time around, we're arriving in Mumbai on the 6th of December and heading down south. Steve, you mentioned you can only pick up tickets from Delhi, otherwise get them delivered to someone in India. I don't have the luxury of either. Do you think it will be ok just to rock up at the station and hope for a seat/sleeper? Thanks for your time *

Nov 1st, 2004, 22:14	#25
04274108 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Earth Posts: 286	Hello. Here is a resource that may help some of us newbies figure out train station codes. http://irfca.org/faq/faq-station.html I don't know how complete it it but it might help. I had a heck of a time trying to figure out where Lokmanya Tilak station was in Mumbai until this site explained that it is the Kurla station.

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Nov 12th, 2004, 16:16	#26
abighellofromme Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: UK Posts: 38	am i being dumb? how do u register? u need an indian address right? what address do u use ? a hotel or something that u r staying in?

Nov 12th, 2004, 16:24	#27
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,014	No you're not being dumb, it's the online registration process that is flawed!! I take it your asking about the address for the registration purposes and not for the pick up/delivery Anyway I'll plow on. You can enter your own home address and you can then choose your country from the drop down menu. The sticky bit is even although you have told the form that your address is not an Indian one it still insists that you fill in the pin number field (the Indian post code) this should be for Indian addresses only but the form hasn't been designed too well and if you don't fill in a 6 digit pin number it won't register you!! So find any old pin number from the internet and enter that or indeed I just made up a 6 figure number and it worked fine!! Indian Railways should really get this fixed as it it a pain in the butt and I'm sure confuses many people!! Hope that helps!!

Nov 12th, 2004, 17:16	#28
abighellofromme Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: UK Posts: 38	thanks cyberhippie once again ur efforts are tremendous in helping us novices. i will try again and see what i find

Nov 12th, 2004, 17:20	#29
abighellofromme Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: UK Posts: 38	cyberhippie....sorry to bother u again but what about the city and the state...all are mandatory * and they only include indian places.....even if i chose united kingdom as the country do i still have to include an indian city and state? confuddled here

Nov 12th, 2004, 17:26	#30
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,014	If you look to the right of the drop down menus for city and state you will see another box for each of them entitled other, just fill in your town and region there you know like Leeds and Yorkshire and continue with the registration process!