Buying train tickets online

Hi,

I have a few questions on buying tickets for the rail trains in India.

1). I have found availabilities on http://www.indianrail.gov.in webpage. Can I go ahead and "Get Fair"? Will my US credit card get recognized? Can I use their system even though I'm foreigner?

2). Since I'm taking an overnight train, I'd like to be able to sleep. Is "SL" the only type of carriage?

3). How do I make sure my husband and I get adjacent beds? Will we get a confirmed number for the berth?

4). Even though I don't have a confirmed ticket, I can still use the Indrail passes to get on any train. Is that correct?

5). The indian train system seems so complicated. Please give me any advices that you think important.

Thanks a lot!

'Get fare' simply tells you how much the train will cost in that class on that train and between those stations.

Go to www.cleartrip.com to book train tickets (can't do this with an Indrail pass)


SL = Sleeper Class, I've done a very detailed thread about Sleeper Class, it's non air con and the cheapest overnight bookable class, a favourite for the adventurious, but not the most comfortable.

The following classes also have sleeping berths

1A = 1st Class air con, expensive, can be private, secure, and poor value for money

2A = 2-tier air con, comfortable, spacious, clean, almost as good as 1A, but much better value for money.

3A = 3-tier air con, a little more crowded, but still comfortable and clean, a wider mix of passengers/families than 2A, superb value for money.


Book the tickets together, and you should be seated together (the seats turn into berths), if you leave booking till late, you could easily be seperated.


Yes, the Indrail pass pays for your ticket, so you can board a train, but without a reservation, you'd have to travel in unreserved 2nd class, You need both a ticket and a reservation, and the Indrail pass only covers the ticket, you still need to reserve the seats/berths. (unless you've pre-booked all you journeys/reservations)



Rsearch well on indiamike.