Do you need train information?

sorry, double post!

Y'r welcome, Kevin.

You can always ask the TTE for this yes, and paying the difference of course. He may or may not be "upgrading" his own payment a little in doing so; as long as it's within reason, I wouldn't be too bothered by it.

1A Has the fewest seats and so will easily book out I guess; but you can always try. 2A Should be fine really.

Mwah, again, you really don't need to be; but,

Yes, except for perhaps the most minor of stations again, there'll be easily-recognized porters around (locally known as coolies indeed, a term of derision where I live), who will carry your luggage (and so guide you) to your seat for you, and on to the train, too.

They may demand a steep price, especially if they sense (and they will) you don't know your way around the country; I don't know about reasonable going rates. I guess maybe say Rs. 50 for one bag and walking some distance or so; but I really honestly don't know. (The only one I've ever "used," just earlier this year and just mostly asking for directions really, pointed at the seat window where we were standing and proudly announced, That's your seat sir! LOL!! Having carried my own bag in there and settled in of course his arm comes in through the window asking for money; I humored him by slipping him a fiver or tenner or so, and he was clearly OK with that, it didn't look like he'd have been very surprised if I'd given him nothing, but, hey, good for him to try.)

In view of stress levels too, especially on your earlier rides, make it to the station well in time. Take some time to people-watch and get oriented around the station (and esp. if the train starts from there or makes a long stop, you'll have ample time to look for your seat of course). At larger stations (which your first one is likely to be), you may find boards stating the official rates for these porters' various services. Whether you and they want to stick to that or not, it will give you an indication. If you want to tip those guys on top of it, a coin or two (perhaps your smallest bill) should really do fine. Please remember Rs. 500 is a lot of money here Similarly,

The first, yes (you don't need to grovel), the second, no. I see absolutely no reason to (and have never seen it done), and an honest guy might take offense thinking you're trying to bribe him. If he goes out of his way for you, maybe you might want to slip him a small bill; like I said, it's an honorable job with probably a decent income, he might likewise think you're indicating he's poor. The best I can think of him doing for you is to upgrade you anyway (which is just a technical provision btw, he's not doing anything "extra" for you, and it's no skin off his back; there either is a seat free to upgrade you to, or there isn't), in which case again he may already allot himself a little extra (not strictly kosher, of course). And remember again, Rs. 500 is no small change, that's a sizable sum of money. I've met people with decent jobs there who earn maybe 100-500 Rs. a day (and then others will earn a lot more of course -- or less).

Nah, it shouldn't really Just some words to the wise, so like anywhere in the world you keep your eyes open just a little.

Train seats have loops underneath them that you can chain your pack to. Many people don't even do this, or may tell you no, no, sir, that's not necessary. Up to you really; many Indians do do it too, it's perfectly acceptable. On the upper berth, I normally take my pack up there and chain it to the structure, then rest my head on it. Not so great with a suitcase, of course; and you might as well stash it underneath the lower bench anyway. Light chains and padlocks are normally conveniently sold by street vendors around the (major) station area, although it pays to get yourself one earlier than that of course. Don't go carrying something heavy from home around. It's just to stop snatch-and-run type action, no one will come by with a boltcutter. And it gives you some peace of mind when walking around the train or so. (It follows that having a pack you can lock itself is handy of course.)

To avoid any suggestions that you're paranoidly locking it away from your co-passengers, I find nonchalantly handling this when settling in as if it were all the order of the day works best.

My daypack (holding camera and diary and medicines and spare glasses and such, i.e., what you really don't want to lose materially or emotionally -- and it speaks for itself it's wise to try and keep this to a minimum) I'll normally keep nonchalantly on my body, or next to me resting on it, or having a hand or foot through the straps or so. So I likewise carry it with me to the loo and so. Your valuables (papers and money stash and so on) meanwhile are best kept on your body, at all times, I and many would say. When sleeping, a bedsheet you can crawl into (sleeping bag liner, or have two handsome bedsheets sewn together locally, makes for a nice souvenir as well -- bedding is provided in the higher classes btw, not sure about 2A, but I suspect so) may offer some sense of cleanliness, and make it that much harder to easily get at there. Wearing just a long kurta or so may serve the same purpose.

They're all just simple precautions really (and we'll all have our own ways in practice to go about our belongings of course, you don't have to follow my lead); I've always had just fine rides, and found my fellow passengers generally the most warm and hospitable people, and generally keeping an eye out for you and just happy and proud to have you as a visitor to their country. As for your belongings, I do increasingly try to minimize what I really can't miss; I mean my dirty underwear anyone is welcome to, and it can easily be replaced on the spot, typically at little cost too. But, again, that's just me.

It may all sound tricky and complicated now I guess, but once you get into it, it'll likely all fall into place. Besides, you've been there before, you may well find you slip right back into it!

btw In all of this, note too that your class will have not open but tainted glass windows; its doors may well be locked at night (except to allow people on or off), and shut to the lower classes too; and there'll typically be a few policemen serving as guards on board (patrolling all the classes, but you may well have one guarding just your carriage all night, I think). So all offering the better security again. Again though, I've traveled up & down the country in Sleeper (and sometimes in Unreserved) Class and never had any trouble, which isn't to say that nothing can or does ever happen, of course.

Hi, I wanted to get a night train from Delhi to Bikaner, I was hoping to go tuedsay the 2nd of March but I think the trains only run on wednesdays,fridays & Sundays? I am going to have to rethink my planned route if I have to wait till wednesday.I'm afraid trying to find other trains & times etc on the train website was giving me a headache.Help please?!

Have a look at http://erail.in?T=NDLS::BKN: ; click those train numbers for further details. Looks like the 5609 runs all week (and gets you in Lalgarh Junction, supposed to be near to Bikaner -- should be just 4 kms, or a 15 mins. train ride --, in the very early morning); it's the 2463 that runs only on those days you mention.

Note this is an unofficial site; take those results back to the official Railways site to verify. For booking, both trains appear to offer Sleeper Class, 3A and 2A.

ps Since train booking opens only 90 days ahead, you won't be able to find results yet for March 2nd.

Hi,

I am waitlisted on Shatabdhi W/L 1 Chennai/bangalore. is there anyway I can travel today?

Date of Travel : Oct 4th
Train Shtatbdhi : 2027
Status : W/L 1

Kindly use this thread for "will my WL get confirmed" type questions: http://www.indiamike.com/india/india...e-only-t91500/.

ps Oh, for today you say. Beats me; has it departed already?

Hello - might someone help please? x

Train number 2432. Have been able to view availability for train direct from Delhi to Goa, which runs Tuesday, Wednesday & Sunday but were hoping to get off in Vadodar on Tuesday evening, then get on the train Wednesday evening down to Goa.

15/12/09 NZM station, Dehli leaving 11.00am

15/12/09 BRC station,Vadodara arriving 10.30pm


16/12/09 BRC station, Vadodar leaving 11.30pm

17/12/09 MAO station, Goa arriving 02.50pm


Rather than book two tickets is there a ticket or pass or something we can buy to cover both bits of the journey.

Any other views on journey?, likely to be v busy??

Thanks v much

You should be able to do that. It is known as a break journey ticket. there is a break jporney thread here.

The only thing is this ticket would not be booked over internet. You would have to go to a railway booking counter in India.

Hello Steph and welcome to indiamike.

The train you mention is a Rajdhani, one of India's premier trains (not that it's a whole lot better than other trains), it's fast and the food is included in the price, and the food is reasonable, however.....

I'm fairly certain that 'Break of journey' tickets aren't allowed for Rajdhani trains, and I'm 100% sure that Rajdhani bookings must include either the train's originating station (Nizamuddin, Delhi) or the terminating station (Trivandrum, Kerala), so you wouldn't be able to book the Vadodara-Madgaon leg.

As with all rules, there is a way around them, especially if you're a foreign tourist, but you need to be in India to do this, the Foreign Tourist quota gets around the originating/terminating problem and allows you to book from Vadodara to Madgaon, but you need to be in India to book FTQ tickets, when do you arrive in India?

Do you really want to spend the whole day (daytime) getting from Delhi to Baroda (Vadodara)?

Train 2926 (also 2926A) departs New Delhi daily at 16.55 and gets to Baroda at 08.30 (1A, 2A, 3A, SL.)

Consider the following....

You'd get this train from New Delhi instead of Nizamuddin, and New Delhi is a lot easier to get to from most places in Delhi (esp. Paharganj).

The departure and arrival times are better.

The overall cost is likely to be half of the price of the Rajdhani as the fare is considerably cheaper and you also save the cost of a hotel.

As for the Baroda-Goa train, also consider the Goa Sampark Kranti (train 2450, runs on Mondays and Saturdays) or the collection of weekly trains that depart Baroda at about 13:30 and get to Madgaon at 08:50. (don't run on Tuesday or Sunday).

Baroda-Goa trains.

Actually, from November 1st they get to Madgaon at about 07:30 I think, and the Rajdhani gets to Goa at 12:30, this is because the Monsoon timetable slows trains down in the Konkan region, but the monsoon timetable ends on 31st October.

If you want to book a Baroda-Goa train before you arrive in India, go for any other train than the Rajdhani.

... That's all good avice

Alternatively however, get just the two tickets indeed; other than Break Of Journey rules which are fairly complicated (see here for instance for an introduction: http://www.indianrail.gov.in/break.html -- it confirms the possibility is not available at all to Rajdhani and some other travelers btw, if that is up-to-date), there exist no "through" tickets no.

The good news is I don't think it matters a whole lot in terms of costs either; ticket prices are largely based on distance covered. You'll always be paying something of a premium I suppose; and possibly more so the higher your class gets, then again if you can afford that it will still be unlikely to be anything to break your back.

Remember if not booking ahead (whether from abroad or in India), you can get any ticket for any stretch on the ground, provided your station is hooked up to the main network, i.e., not absolutely minor. So you don't need to be at any stations involved to get a ticket for an entirely different stretch. (Not booking ahead, there's always the very real risk of trains being booked-up, of course.)

In other words, there's nothing to stop you from e.g. getting a ticket from Bhubaneswar to Chennai in Delhi, availability provided. You'd need to know when you want to travel, of course.

Hi,

my first post in this wunderful forum. I thought, there will be no need, to post here, because you get every information, you are looking for just be reading the daily posts, but now I am on a point where I need your help.

I am looking for a connection from Nainital to Agra. I found a lot of information about Kumaon Extress operating between Lul Kuan and Mathura, but this train seems to have stopped service. Than I was searching to other connections via Barailly. I can get to there, but I am not able to find a good connection form there to Agra or Mathura (just one BE LTT EXpress running only once a week)

So please give me some response on how to get from Nainital (Kathgodam or Lul Kuan to Agra/Mathura). Maybe there is running a bus service.

Cheers,
Taunusianer

PS: I want to try to avoid touching Delhi again!

Hello, I am a newbie about to make my first trip to India. I am attempting to do most of my accommodation and train bookings online before I leave. I have successfully booked several trains using the irctc site. However I am stuggling with booking a train from New Delhi to Haridwar on the 19th Dec 2009. My preferred train is the 2017, but I can not find any trains running on the 19th. I want to return to New Delhi on 26th dec 2009. Not fussed on what class I travel but do want to travel in daylight hours as much as possible.
All the other trains I have booked allowed me to book 90 days in adavance.
Am I missing something re seasonal or timetable changes? as whenever I search for trains from Delhi to Haridwar, all trains come up with a message like "train cancelled" "this halt cancelled" or "this is a through station"
Confussed. Thanks in advance
SriNath
PS. last date I can find any train is 4th Dec 09. From 5th dec on I get a message saying "ISL Station Deleted" ????

I think this is a good place for the following info:

I traveled from Secunderabad to KGP in First AC that has been recently introduced on Falaknuma Express. However there are some concerns that I have:

1. The first AC is a half coach - shares with III AC. Because of this, there is too much "through traffic".
2. The compartments are essentially the same as the old First Class with the addition of AC !! OK, they provide bedsheets, blanket & pillow !
3. I am not sure if it is worth paying the extra Rs 900 over the IIAC fare.

Cheers

Nattusbs

Thanks for the info.

Sharing with 3A is rare, do you know how many 1A and 3A berths there were?

Do you think the carriages were converted from old FC stock?

I agree, 1A just isn't worth the extra money over 2A.

Steven_ber

Yes, sharing with 3A is rare - I was talking with the TTE and he said that this is an experiment and that they were planning on introducing more of these carriages on other trains - I told him that it is a bad move.

There were 10 berths of First AC (2x4 + 1X2) and if my memory is correct there were 43 berths of 3AC (5x8 + 1x3) that made up this carriage.

Yes, it appeared to me that the First AC are old first class stock - minor additions like thicker cushion of mattress, electrical outlets, different ladder that swings to the side when not to be used - I should have taken photos with my mobile phone camera!

Next time I will only travel 2AC.

Cheers
Nattusbs