Chennai to Agra - Advice Needed

I'm hoping someone can help. I'm keen to get from the south to the north with minimal fuss. Does anyone know if it’s quicker to get an express train (Grand Trunk Express or Tamil Nadu Express) to Delhi, and then go back to Agra. OR is it quicker to get a train straight from Chennai directly to Agra. Either way I'm seriously hoping that what Torryquine said below is true:
I might be the first person ever to say this, but we found the touts at Agra Station actually rather helpful and polite too

After 36 to 40 hours on a train, I would love to see some friendly smiley faces to help me on my way! Somehow, I think not!!

Another quick question: is there anywhere along this route that's worth a visit? (excluding Hampi, Mumbai, Khajuraho, or Goa as I have been to these places)

Hey,

If u want to go to Agra, the best way is to get there from Delhi

1. From Chennai, Take flight to Delhi or Train

2. From Delhi, you can take the Shatabdi express to Agra

or

Take a taxi, u will reach Agra in just 4 hrs.

U can read my travelogue on Delhi - Agra - Delhi road trip...But, don't miss Fateh- pur- sikri...
http://www.indiamike.com/india/article.php?a=36

The Grand Trunk Express & Tamil Nadu Express both stop at Agra Cantt.

The Tamil Nadu Express is probibly better timed, as it calls at Agra at 04:17 in the morning, though it may be an hour or two late.

The TN express will take 30 hours to reach Agra.

The Rajdhani (train number 2433) it another option, though it only departs Chennai on Fridays & Sundays, it departs at 06:20 and gets to Agra Cantt at 09:09 the following morning.

Thanks Steven ber,

You're a champion! By my calculations the Rajdhani train takes under 27 hours to get from point to point so this will definitely be my preferred option.

This is exactly the minimal fuss option I was looking for and I have the flexibility to tie it into my trip! You wouldn't happen to know if it has 1A, 2A or 3A berths?

Once again thanks for your help!!

It has all 3 overnight air-con classes.

1A, 2A & 3A.

Beware, the Shatabdi Express is not always on time. We waited in Agra two (2) hours for our train to Delhi. Further, the Shatabdis -- India's best -- do not compare with first-class trains elsewhere in the world. They're dirty; the seats are uncomfortable; and they are slow. (My Delhi-Jaipur Shatabdi left on time and arrived 90 minutes after it was supposed to.)

Thanks Ned,

That certainly sounds like Indian train travel to me! You should be thankful you only had to wait 2 hours. It could have been a lot worse. What do they say, the journey is half the fun!

Dav:
Tamilnadu or GT will be fine,but make sure u book the atleast 2nd A/C or 3rd a/c.
Lower than class cant say very clean.

Radz

For sure. We gave up on our Varanasi-Agra train when we got to the station and learned it was running sixteen (16!) hours late.

We rushed to the airport. Both flights to Agra had been cancelled. We were lucky to get on an Indian Airlines flight to Delhi, having been given a promise that IA would bus us to Agra. At Indira Gandhi we were told no bus would be available for three hours. I'd be embarrassed to reveal how much it cost us to taxi from Delhi to Agra.

All the same, I loved India -- and can't wait to go back....

Sounds like a nightmare!! I'm going back to India soon for a three month holiday (Are you allowed to call India a holiday?) I'm going to have very loose plans to try to avoid travel deadlines. Hopefully this will cut out some of the stress! All part of the fun though. That's easy to say sitting in the comforts of the western world. I've tried to suppress the image of what a train's squat toilet looks like after a 30 hour journey!

It looks 'familiar'

You get western toilets in most classes now; they should be clean on the Rajdhani.

Steven ber,

I'm starting to get more than a little worried about your mental well being. Knowing all about the train timetables is a great help to many, and we all appreciate it, but giving information about the state of toilets on any given train is just taking it TOO FAR!

LOL

I've never been on a Rajdhani or a Shatabdi; India's best trains.

But I know that they are amongst the newest trains and the best looked after trains.



Dav, your post appears to be edited by me, it hasn't been, for some strange reason I clicked on 'edit' instead of 'reply'.