Do you need train information?

Hello. I registered online with an Indian mobile so that part is done. I'm trying to book a ticket from Hospet to Goa and the website it bloody impossible! Why do they make it so hard?!

Which website? Where in Goa? What difficulties are you facing? Remember Goa is not a placename, it's a state. So you may need to look for specific places there. Two main railway stations there are at Madgaon/Margao and Vasco da Gama, or simply Vasco.

Other than that, the IRCTC site is said to often be unresponsive yes. Just persist, I guess. Are you in India? If you're at home, your machine may well need to allow cookies for that site, or perhaps give it some other permissions. Public machines probably already will by default.

My ticket was in waiting list, it has been confirmed now, but its not showing seat number and coach number details. Its only showing confirmed. my train will depart tomorrow morning at 9:20 am. I am wondering would I be able to check these details on internet, or I'll have to go to ticket counter to know the final status. Please reply.

I'm assuming you're booked in 1A? Seats there only get assigned shortly before departure. Could be the case for a few other similar classes, I'm not sure. It's presumably to give the upper-class passengers the best seating arrangements available.

Don't worry, you may check online shortly before heading for the station, or just go over there, there will be (or should be...) charts posted both on the platform and on the train itself, or speak to the TTE (ticket examiner. He's that very busy guy in a uniform and with a stack of charts indeed and being accosted by passengers), or if the train is leaving and you still haven't figured it out, just hop on board already anywhere on the train and work it out from there.

Mind your belongings in the chaos of a train arriving and leaving, and have a good trip

ps I don't think the ticket counter will do you much good no, you could ask there, but instead of queueing up for it I wouldn't bother. May be easier on you presumably speaking the language to get a swift question thrown in inbetween, as a foreigner I don't.

(And so I realized only now I'm probably speaking to an Indian member. Oh well, sorry for the superfluous details, may be handy to other readers looking at this stuff for the first time Welcome to IndiaMike, btw.)

Thanks machadinha for your kind reply. It was a vlauable and helpful information for me.

My younger brother has just completed hid 12th exams and he is coming from Delhi(Home) to Mumbai(where I work) to have some good time after 12th exams stress and before a new college life. Its his first long jouney by train, so I was a bit worried about him.

I really admire India Mike forum who has got member like machadinha, always ready to help. I am looking forwad to be an active member of this forum.

Its not 1A, its 3A DEE(Sarai Rohilla)- BDTS(Bandra Terminus) Garib rath as my name suggest Garib Passenger

When a ticket is initially wait-listed (for any class), and then gets confirmed, the coach and berth numbers are not immediately mentioned. Rather, it just says "Confirmed" when you check the PNR online. There is nothing to worry about; you will get your coach/berth numbers when the train's chart is prepared. As long as it says "Confirmed" on the enquiry page, you're good to go.

If travelling 1A or FC, even if your ticket is confirmed initially, coach/berth numbers are not displayed immediately. This is for certain other reasons already discussed on the forum.

aloke_m Garib Rath's 3A was in huge waiting list, and being a holiday perriod(students holidays after exams, appraisals of working professionals) I found the chances of a ticket getting confirmed are very low. Hence I purchased the return ticket(Garib Rath Chair Class) of 22 may 2012 from Mumbai to Delhi. Even this category was full and the waitlist was 11. I think ticket would get confirmed as its more than a month time? And how is the Chair Class of Garib Rath for a long journey of 16 hours?

Mods I am sorry if this question has been already asked. I couldn't get relevant information, so I asked in this thread.

Graib, thanks for your detailed responses in turn, Aloke and you provided me with some new details.

Aloke or someone may well be in yet to answer your waitlist question (I can't answer such questions), or, ask it here: Post your waitlist questions here ONLY. Give them your date of travel, train name or number, train class, departure and arrival station, and of course waitlist status, and there are people there who can give you a good estimate.

Chair Class for that long nor Garib Rath I've never been in; people complain that obviously it's not so great as having a berth, but I reckon one will survive. Well, 16 hours... think of a flight that long, that's kind of what it is like.

I've only been in 1CC once (and in 2S quite often... that does admittedly get tedious after a while), that was pretty spiffy I must say. Good and comfy chairs, plenty of leg room. Certainly better than y'r average plane's economy class, I'd say. I slept like a rose through that few-hours' ride. But like I said, Garib Rath I don't know about.

It wil also be easier (than obviously on a plane) to walk around some I guess, go hang out by the doors for a bit. Maybe find an empty berth in Sleeper by day to lie down some. (Or does Garib Rath have no other classes?) Your ticket should allow you to be in any of the classes below yours, I'm not sure where this ticket would put you -- or so your brother, rather --, in the hierarchy of things.

CC in GR will be like 2S in Jan-Shatabdi (3+3 config) but with AC. So more congested than regular CC, but much cooler than 2S and certainly better than GN.
CC in GR will not allow you access to 3A in GR coach, unless TTE can upgrade you, assuming there is a vacancy...
FYI - 12909 NZM GARIB RATH - has 15 3A & 4 CC coaches

Hi , can anyone please suggest me slipper or ac3 from ludhiana to varanasi for two from 14, 15, or 16 june 2012, i can also travel from delhi, if not possible from ludhiana, thanks

? I guess check http://erail.in?T=LDH::BSB:. Study that site some to get to grips with it.

Compare also http://erail.in?T=LDH::MGS:.

Hi -I would like the experienced travelers opinions on a few things. I am Indian with a Canadian hubby and 2 little boys, age 8 and 6. I have been to India many times and traveled on many trains. Train travel in India will be a first for my husband and little boys.

Do you think 2AC would be OK ? I am trying for 1AC, but can only get WL1-4 for all my trains. Thinking of also reserving 2AC on same trains since there are more seats and WL might move quicker.

All the literature says to get a lock to nail down your luggage on trains. WHAT ABOUT BACKPACKS? Even if I lock my backpack to some train post or my berth, someone can just cut the cloth and take my pack while I am sleeping. Am I being paranoid? Suggestions on locks/cables that I should travel with?

Thanks,
S.

The locking thing is more to stop snatch-and-run type action, no one will come by with a bolt cutter (and if they would, you'd be asleep anyway ). Just a light chain and padlock will do; they're commonly sold by hawkers in and around the larger railway stations.

Yes, 2AC would be fine, or whatever you please.

I'm assuming you want 1AC because you can afford it. If you want peace of mind after paying such a price, I'd suggest opting for it on routes where enough availability is there to ensure you get confirmed berths. Since berths are usually very less (10-18 per coach), it would be painful to have 2 tkts confirm & others remain waitlisted... Also early booking with confirmed seats is very likely to ensure you will all be in the same 4-berth cabin.

If you see enough availability in 2A, you should be able to book 2LB & 2UB & get a curtained cabin to yourself. But this should be done well in advance, as LBs sell out very very quickly...

If you are not carrying any very valuable (e.g. jewellery, cash) in your backpack, you should be fine just keeping it under the berth. You may lock it for more peace, but it does not get rid of a determined thief. Placing it properly such that it takes a bit of effort to get out is usually more than sufficient to deter the novices.

I have travelled in 3A & 2A without lock&chain and have survived with a little bit of caution. On the other hand my cousin had his suitcase stolen during night by someone pouring acid to break the chain! My parents had their suitcase stolen by someone selling them lemon tea with some sleeping pills mixed in it.

Finally, a word of caution about 1A - don't expect absolute safety here. There was a news story last year about a guy booking 1A tkts to steal laptops & whatever gadgets he could get & deboard at an intermediate station in the middle of the night. If you end up with split cabins in 1A, the basic caution still applies.

I like to go to Tanakpur from Lucknow.Please inform me the distance and details of trains with time-table,bus service and taxi or rented cars.Please inform me the total time required by bus and car.Thanks for your cooperation.