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

comet · Jan 12th, 2008, 21:55

I booked 5 or 6 train journeys about a year and a half ago pretty much hassle free on teh site and I wondered what all the fuss was about. Now here I am all afternoon trying to book one train and I keep getting communication failure

now I know why the thread is so long

Big Susan · Jan 13th, 2008, 02:08

Well, after all that, I phoned my father to say what my plans were and he nearly had a fit that I was proposing to take the train from Mumbai to Goa. In vain did I protest that I viewed this trip as part of my holiday, I was looking forward to the trip, I'm over fifty (for goodness sake!!!); he still threatened a stroke at the very idea. Why does he live in India I ask myself?
So, I'm sorry to say that I can't report back that I have succeded in booking my rail tickets; I've agreed to a flight. But thanks to you for the information - I aim to use it when there.

steven_ber · Jan 13th, 2008, 02:15

Never mind Susan, you'll still have a great time.

Mabsentt · Jan 17th, 2008, 07:03

So last night i sat shaking in fear as i logged on to IR website to book a few trains for over the next couple of months. It was my first attempt and i had been putting off doing it because of all the stories of peoples various troubles with the site and especially payment. I was planning to book my trains on arrival next thursday, like I normally do, but saw that availability was running low on a couple of the trains i wanted to book so I was left with no option but to try my luck online.

Not sure if it was beginners luck or if the website has been fixed but within 45 mins of logging on I had booked all 5 trains without a single comm. failure or problem!!! I even got my prefered upper side birth on all 5 trains!!!! I used my visa card on the CITI link where you choose 'other visa/master'.

Anyway, i would never have been able to do this if I hadn't done a bit of research on IM and the train information on here is just amazing. I want to show appreciation to all for the information that is posted on this site (SO SO SO helpful) and especially to those dedicated members, The Train Gurus (you know who you are), who go out of their way to help people understand and sort out the adventure that is Indian Railways.

THANK YOU GUYS

Matt

gillsanctuary · Jan 21st, 2008, 14:06

Hi Anyone, get to the stage of payment, give my card, tried three so far!! (All good by the way)).then I get this

"You Were Trying To Use icici Payment Gateway And The Transaction CouldNot Proceed Due To Communication Problem .

"

Thats on one journey, tried 3 differant comps and closed all windows and and and.help please!

Also when trying to book tickets from NJP to MGS it shows 5 trains going but when I check no availibility in any of them, ????? This is for 6 weeeks time by the way, any suggestions???

This is day 5 of this so far and by the way i am really ok on comps!

Gill x

Nick-H · Jan 21st, 2008, 14:23

If the icici 'gateway' doesn't work, use the other one --- Citi Bank, I think?

arkaren80 · Jan 21st, 2008, 14:31

I'll be arriving in Delhi early morning of March 21 this year and am planning to go directly to Agra catching the 9 AM train. Do I need to pre book my ticket? If I can, how do I pick my ticket up? or can I just be chance passenger? Please help. Thanks.

shashank.aggarwal · Jan 21st, 2008, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by arkaren80

I'll be arriving in Delhi early morning of March 21 this year and am planning to go directly to Agra catching the 9 AM train. Do I need to pre book my ticket? If I can, how do I pick my ticket up? or can I just be chance passenger? Please help. Thanks.

Yes, its better to get your tickets booked in advance. www.irctc.co.in would be the place where you can book e-ticket and take a printout..

arkaren80 · Jan 21st, 2008, 14:51

Thanks shashank. But the server seems to be down today...another question, i'm a girl but travelling with a guy friend. Do i still qualify for the ladies quota? I dont want to end up in a seat away from my companion.

shashank.aggarwal · Jan 21st, 2008, 14:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by arkaren80

Thanks shashank. But the server seems to be down today...another question, i'm a girl but travelling with a guy friend. Do i still qualify for the ladies quota? I dont want to end up in a seat away from my companion.

Your travel date is around 2 months from today, you don't even need to go into quota details. Keep trying the website and book the tickets whenever you can..

steven_ber · Jan 21st, 2008, 16:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by arkaren80

i'm a girl but travelling with a guy friend. Do i still qualify for the ladies quota? I dont want to end up in a seat away from my companion.

Book tickets using the general quota, the general quota is for everyone, the ladies quota is tiny and will put you in a seperate carriage from your friend.

The last ladies I advised to use the ladies quota were not too happy with their seats/berths, they said they were put in a general carriage and that there were loads of men.

arkaren80 · Jan 22nd, 2008, 10:01

I'm using a Visa credit card from a local bank, which payment gateway should I use?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

If the icici 'gateway' doesn't work, use the other one --- Citi Bank, I think?

You're right nick! The citibank pg worked! finally booked my tickets.

Many thanks.

Jlingoa · Feb 1st, 2008, 21:27

Do E tickets need to be picked up? Or, as with the airlines, can one just get on the train with a print out of the information? Does the New Delhi Railway Station have a Foreign Ticket Window and if so;

the hours the ticket window is open?

Thank you.

steven_ber · Feb 1st, 2008, 21:48

From an earlier post....

Quote:

I-Ticket = book on the net, have it delivered to an address in India, a hotel or travel agent for example, you can no longer pick these tickets up at the station.

E-Ticket = Book on the net, then print the ticket on your home computer.

Advance reservations.

Most tickets can only be booked 60 days in advance, a few tickets can only be booked 30 days in advance. (Some Intercity and daytime, short distance trains)

Opening times for train bookings.

Booking through Internet is allowed from 5 AM to 11.30 PM (IST)
23:30 - 18:00 GMT

There is a Foreign Tourist Office on the first floor (Paharganj side) of New Delhi train station, ignore the touts who'll try to tell you anything to get you to their office across the road.

Not sure of the opening times, but probibly from 08:00 till 20:00, but do check this.

machadinha · Feb 4th, 2008, 06:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by steven_ber

There is a Foreign Tourist Office on the first floor (Paharganj side) of New Delhi train station, ignore the touts who'll try to tell you anything to get you to their office across the road.

Check also http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/tou...bureau_idx.htm . How up-to-date that is, I don't know.

Jan 13th, 2008, 02:15	#453
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 8,930	Never mind Susan, you'll still have a great time. __________________ . How to get helpful replies to your transport/Itinerary questions. Train information.

Jan 21st, 2008, 14:06	#455
gillsanctuary Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: thailand Posts: 4	Can not pay for the tickets Hi Anyone, get to the stage of payment, give my card, tried three so far!! (All good by the way)).then I get this "You Were Trying To Use icici Payment Gateway And The Transaction CouldNot Proceed Due To Communication Problem . " Thats on one journey, tried 3 differant comps and closed all windows and and and.help please! Also when trying to book tickets from NJP to MGS it shows 5 trains going but when I check no availibility in any of them, ????? This is for 6 weeeks time by the way, any suggestions??? This is day 5 of this so far and by the way i am really ok on comps! Gill x

Jan 21st, 2008, 14:23	#456
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 25,860	If the icici 'gateway' doesn't work, use the other one --- Citi Bank, I think? __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Jan 21st, 2008, 14:31	#457
arkaren80 The Traveling Hermit Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE Posts: 35	I'll be arriving in Delhi early morning of March 21 this year and am planning to go directly to Agra catching the 9 AM train. Do I need to pre book my ticket? If I can, how do I pick my ticket up? or can I just be chance passenger? Please help. Thanks. __________________ "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step..."

Feb 1st, 2008, 21:27	#463
Jlingoa ________________ Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: USA and South America Posts: 17	E Tickets on Indian Railways Do E tickets need to be picked up? Or, as with the airlines, can one just get on the train with a print out of the information? Does the New Delhi Railway Station have a Foreign Ticket Window and if so; the hours the ticket window is open? Thank you. __________________ ___________________ "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." Mark Twain

Jan 12th, 2008, 21:55	#451
comet Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: here, there and everywhere... Posts: 61	I booked 5 or 6 train journeys about a year and a half ago pretty much hassle free on teh site and I wondered what all the fuss was about. Now here I am all afternoon trying to book one train and I keep getting communication failure now I know why the thread is so long

Jan 13th, 2008, 02:08	#452
Big Susan Big Susan Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: London Posts: 3	Well, after all that, I phoned my father to say what my plans were and he nearly had a fit that I was proposing to take the train from Mumbai to Goa. In vain did I protest that I viewed this trip as part of my holiday, I was looking forward to the trip, I'm over fifty (for goodness sake!!!); he still threatened a stroke at the very idea. Why does he live in India I ask myself? So, I'm sorry to say that I can't report back that I have succeded in booking my rail tickets; I've agreed to a flight. But thanks to you for the information - I aim to use it when there.

Jan 17th, 2008, 07:03	#454
Mabsentt Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: UK Posts: 49	So last night i sat shaking in fear as i logged on to IR website to book a few trains for over the next couple of months. It was my first attempt and i had been putting off doing it because of all the stories of peoples various troubles with the site and especially payment. I was planning to book my trains on arrival next thursday, like I normally do, but saw that availability was running low on a couple of the trains i wanted to book so I was left with no option but to try my luck online. Not sure if it was beginners luck or if the website has been fixed but within 45 mins of logging on I had booked all 5 trains without a single comm. failure or problem!!! I even got my prefered upper side birth on all 5 trains!!!! I used my visa card on the CITI link where you choose 'other visa/master'. Anyway, i would never have been able to do this if I hadn't done a bit of research on IM and the train information on here is just amazing. I want to show appreciation to all for the information that is posted on this site (SO SO SO helpful) and especially to those dedicated members, The Train Gurus (you know who you are), who go out of their way to help people understand and sort out the adventure that is Indian Railways. THANK YOU GUYS Matt

Jan 21st, 2008, 14:51	#459
arkaren80 The Traveling Hermit Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE Posts: 35	Thanks shashank. But the server seems to be down today...another question, i'm a girl but travelling with a guy friend. Do i still qualify for the ladies quota? I dont want to end up in a seat away from my companion.

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