Booking rail tickets from abroad- a Beginner's Guide

vsp27759 · Sep 22nd, 2005, 22:21

Dear Blueskiesgirl,
You said:
""but it shows as WL9/WL5 so presume 9 were originally on waiting list and I am now position number 5. Do you think I would get on?""
-------------
@@@At the time of purchasing your ticket the status was WL.9/WL.5, which means, the difference is 9 minus 5 = 4.
----
But today, the position is WL.35/WL.29, which means, the diference is 35 minus 29 = 6.
-----
WL.9/WL.5, had it continued like that, it should have been WL.35/WL.31. Right? But it is WL.35/WL.29, which means, there are 2 cancellations.
---
In all probability, your status should be (as of now) WL.9/WL.3,
----------
Can you please confirm this?
=============
Don't worry, you may get RAC. at the time of Final Charting!!!!!

Aussie 5 · Sep 24th, 2005, 17:59

Hi. My recent learnings as a beginner which may help others. I'd appreciate any feedback/comment.

I've had problems booking side-berths in sleeper class in the last week or so (as some of you will know from my earlier questions to the forum!). I struggled to think why my preference for side berths was not accepted by the sytem when I booked as soon as internet bookings became available and there must have been side berths available.

Then I remembered that when I had booked an earlier 1AC fare I had used the 'master list of passengers' with a preference for upper and lower berths. While I had not refered to the master list in my bookings for sleeper class (on the screen there is the option 1 to enter you names or 2 to refer to the master list) I thought that somehow the computer system must have taken my earlier preference.

And bingo...... I deleted by master list and all of a sudden I can book side berths. Amazing!!!

Aussie 5 · Sep 25th, 2005, 04:31

Hi, what do I need to take to secure my relatively suitcase (carry on plane size) on the train?

I think I read somewhere that chains are provided but travellers should bring locks. Is this true? Also, is luggage stored under the lower berth (where I can keep an eye on it during the day) or somewhere else?

SHIMLA · Sep 25th, 2005, 09:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aussie 5

Hi, what do I need to take to secure my relatively suitcase (carry on plane size) on the train?

I think I read somewhere that chains are provided but travellers should bring locks. Is this true? Also, is luggage stored under the lower berth (where I can keep an eye on it during the day) or somewhere else?

You need to carry both - chains and locks. This is because chains are not provided on some trains, including the prestigeous Mumbai Rajdhani Express!

Luggage is stored under the lower berth during the day. It is also piled on the multi-purpose upper berth !

Aussie 5 · Sep 25th, 2005, 09:53

Shimla
Thanks for your advice to carry a chain and lock to secure my suitcase. Very much appreciated. I hope you wont mind some further questions - What length chain should I bring? And what do I attach my bag to? A leg of the lower berth, or something else?

SHIMLA · Sep 25th, 2005, 11:43

Aussie 5,

I really do not know the length of the chain, but you can buy one and the lock very easily at the railway platform; there's no need to bring it all the way from Brisbane.

Hooks are provided(thankfully!) below the lower berth, so you can slip one end of your chain through the hook and the other end through the handle of your suitcase; then lock both the ends together.

Aussie 5 · Sep 25th, 2005, 13:31

Shimla
Thanks - Really helpful information. Delighted to know that I can buy what I need at the railway station. Makes life so much easier!

November 11 is fast approaching and I am so looking forward to my first India trip.

jerrye233 · Nov 5th, 2005, 13:59

You say you got that card, on the net, and used it to pay. Am I missing something here, or did you set a world record?

pezworld · Nov 5th, 2005, 14:20

Jerry, are you responding to my response on the other thread?

Citibank is just the GATEWAY, not the card itself. It's a way they process the Visa and Mastercard transactions. You could have a Visa from East Podunk U.S.A Bank, and you could process it easily throught the Citibank gateway. Try it and see if it works. Good luck!

(That's part of the reason I used American Express. I used the American Express gateway, then entered my Amex number. Not confusing.)

jerrye233 · Nov 5th, 2005, 14:27

You Were Trying To Use icicibank Payment Gateway And The Transaction CouldNot Proceed Due To Transaction Failed in ICICI Bank(URL Based).

We regret that the payment for the transaction under reference no. 0005150753 was not authorised by your bankers and hence we are not in a position to process the booking. This transaction would be appearing under the Failed Payments link of the site. You may retry the transaction from the failed payments link.

This is their reply. irctc says that there must be something wrong with my visa card. If the truth be known, the ICICI Bank Gateway asked me for my (their userid) and password. I don't have any dealings with them. I never got a chance to say I have a visa card. I must be doing something wrong.

pezworld · Nov 6th, 2005, 01:07

Use the Citibank gateway!

ksrao801 · Nov 11th, 2005, 12:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aussie 5

Hi,
What an informative forum - it has helped me amazingly - even managed to book my first tickets on-line!!

The great www.seat61.com/India.htm site indicates that there are both 2-berth and 4-berth 1AC cabins, but I could find no way to indicate that preference when booking my journey on train 9005 the Saurashtra Mail from Mumbai to Ahmedabad.

I understand that the actual seating in 1AC is determined a little while before departure - How can I secure a 2-berth cabin? I'll be in Mumbai for a day or so before the journey.
Regards
Aussie 5

I may be too late in replying. You can request for a 'coupe' which is a 2-berth cabin. But your ticket will not show whether you have been allotted a 2-berth or 4-berth cabin as the allotment is done just before the trail leaves (chart preparation time)

ksrao801 · Nov 11th, 2005, 12:23

Does anyone have any experience with it? If the ticket is booked using a foreign - meaning non-Indian credit card, will the refund be credited to the account or will there be any foreign exchange hassles?

mca2005 · Nov 15th, 2005, 09:40

Hello all,
I have read through the thread (well, most of it) and am aware that the online resrevation site's a little touchy but I can't even register! i hit the submit button and nothing happens. I have tried different browssers, computers ect. and nothing happens. I emailed them but have gotten no response...any thoughts/

mca2005 · Nov 15th, 2005, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by mca2005

Hello all,
I have read through the thread (well, most of it) and am aware that the online resrevation site's a little touchy but I can't even register! i hit the submit button and nothing happens. I have tried different browssers, computers ect. and nothing happens. I emailed them but have gotten no response...any thoughts/

ok i figured this out....i know some of you veterans will laugh

but....i was filling out my 'home' address as in my address in the United states - i got no error message as soon as i filled out the address of my hotel in india it worked... now for the booking

Sep 24th, 2005, 17:59	#152
Aussie 5 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 278	Caution in use of Master List of Passengers Hi. My recent learnings as a beginner which may help others. I'd appreciate any feedback/comment. I've had problems booking side-berths in sleeper class in the last week or so (as some of you will know from my earlier questions to the forum!). I struggled to think why my preference for side berths was not accepted by the sytem when I booked as soon as internet bookings became available and there must have been side berths available. Then I remembered that when I had booked an earlier 1AC fare I had used the 'master list of passengers' with a preference for upper and lower berths. While I had not refered to the master list in my bookings for sleeper class (on the screen there is the option 1 to enter you names or 2 to refer to the master list) I thought that somehow the computer system must have taken my earlier preference. And bingo...... I deleted by master list and all of a sudden I can book side berths. Amazing!!!

Sep 25th, 2005, 04:31	#153
Aussie 5 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 278	Securing Luggage on Trains - What do I need to take? Hi, what do I need to take to secure my relatively suitcase (carry on plane size) on the train? I think I read somewhere that chains are provided but travellers should bring locks. Is this true? Also, is luggage stored under the lower berth (where I can keep an eye on it during the day) or somewhere else?

Nov 5th, 2005, 13:59	#158
jerrye233 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: temple city, calif, USA Posts: 54	How again did you get that Citibank Card? You say you got that card, on the net, and used it to pay. Am I missing something here, or did you set a world record?

Nov 11th, 2005, 12:23	#163
ksrao801 Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 27	Refund for cancellation of internet booked tickets Does anyone have any experience with it? If the ticket is booked using a foreign - meaning non-Indian credit card, will the refund be credited to the account or will there be any foreign exchange hassles?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Sep 22nd, 2005, 22:21	#151
vsp27759 V.SRINIVASA PRASAD Join Date: May 2005 Location: HYDERABAD Posts: 2,725	Dear Blueskiesgirl, You said: ""but it shows as WL9/WL5 so presume 9 were originally on waiting list and I am now position number 5. Do you think I would get on?"" ------------- @@@At the time of purchasing your ticket the status was WL.9/WL.5, which means, the difference is 9 minus 5 = 4. ---- But today, the position is WL.35/WL.29, which means, the diference is 35 minus 29 = 6. ----- WL.9/WL.5, had it continued like that, it should have been WL.35/WL.31. Right? But it is WL.35/WL.29, which means, there are 2 cancellations. --- In all probability, your status should be (as of now) WL.9/WL.3, ---------- Can you please confirm this? ============= Don't worry, you may get RAC. at the time of Final Charting!!!!!

Sep 25th, 2005, 09:53	#155
Aussie 5 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 278	Shimla Thanks for your advice to carry a chain and lock to secure my suitcase. Very much appreciated. I hope you wont mind some further questions - What length chain should I bring? And what do I attach my bag to? A leg of the lower berth, or something else?

Sep 25th, 2005, 11:43	#156
SHIMLA Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Yangon, MYANMAR Posts: 4,126	Aussie 5, I really do not know the length of the chain, but you can buy one and the lock very easily at the railway platform; there's no need to bring it all the way from Brisbane. Hooks are provided(thankfully!) below the lower berth, so you can slip one end of your chain through the hook and the other end through the handle of your suitcase; then lock both the ends together.

Sep 25th, 2005, 13:31	#157
Aussie 5 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brisbane Australia Posts: 278	Shimla Thanks - Really helpful information. Delighted to know that I can buy what I need at the railway station. Makes life so much easier! November 11 is fast approaching and I am so looking forward to my first India trip.

Nov 5th, 2005, 14:20	#159
pezworld Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 122	Jerry, are you responding to my response on the other thread? Citibank is just the GATEWAY, not the card itself. It's a way they process the Visa and Mastercard transactions. You could have a Visa from East Podunk U.S.A Bank, and you could process it easily throught the Citibank gateway. Try it and see if it works. Good luck! (That's part of the reason I used American Express. I used the American Express gateway, then entered my Amex number. Not confusing.)

Nov 5th, 2005, 14:27	#160
jerrye233 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: temple city, calif, USA Posts: 54	You Were Trying To Use icicibank Payment Gateway And The Transaction CouldNot Proceed Due To Transaction Failed in ICICI Bank(URL Based). We regret that the payment for the transaction under reference no. 0005150753 was not authorised by your bankers and hence we are not in a position to process the booking. This transaction would be appearing under the Failed Payments link of the site. You may retry the transaction from the failed payments link. This is their reply. irctc says that there must be something wrong with my visa card. If the truth be known, the ICICI Bank Gateway asked me for my (their userid) and password. I don't have any dealings with them. I never got a chance to say I have a visa card. I must be doing something wrong.

Nov 6th, 2005, 01:07	#161
pezworld Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 122	Use the Citibank gateway!

Nov 15th, 2005, 09:40	#164
mca2005 first time traveler to India Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: new york Posts: 66	Hello all, I have read through the thread (well, most of it) and am aware that the online resrevation site's a little touchy but I can't even register! i hit the submit button and nothing happens. I have tried different browssers, computers ect. and nothing happens. I emailed them but have gotten no response...any thoughts/

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Pay by INR	tasuray	Chai and Chat	22	Nov 18th, 2007 09:35
Why do I have to pay in $ instead of INR	Kirmani	Chai and Chat	15	Aug 26th, 2005 16:12
Help - Am I Going To Have To Pay Tax?	Hamanda	Chai and Chat	8	Aug 22nd, 2005 17:34
If you pay peanuts,....	beach	Humour - It Only Happens in India	0	Mar 17th, 2005 21:13
How much should I pay for...??	villavic	Scams and Annoyances in India	8	Jan 5th, 2005 23:00