Foreign Tourist Quota

Another issue that just arised.

I am going through the train schedules for the Goa and Kochi-route. When I spoke to a local travel agency a couple of days ago, the lady on the phone said each train has a certain number of seats reserved for foreigners (confirm anyone?).

I did a search on Madgaon [MAO] to Eranakulam JN [ERS) in second class AC with a foreign tourist quota (I suppose this is the option a foreigner should use, or am I wrong?). This is the result I got:

Train Number Train Name Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Source Station Destination Station Quota Code

6345 NETRAVATI EXP 01-11-2005 MADGAON ERANAKULAM JN FOREIGN_TOURIST

S.No. Date (DD-MM-YYYY) Class - 2A
1 1-11-2005 AVAILABLE- 0002

2 2-11-2005 AVAILABLE- 0002

3 3-11-2005 AVAILABLE- 0002

4 4-11-2005 AVAILABLE- 0002

5 5-11-2005 AVAILABLE- 0002

6 6-11-2005 AVAILABLE- 0002

Does this mean there are available seats for foreigners? What does 0002 mean?

Diplomacy

I just wanted to tack on another question -- are the rates, charged to foreigners who utilize this quota, higher than regular rates?

Yes the India has a quota system for reserving train seats for tourists. We were in Bangalore last February trying to get tickets. They were sold out but when I asked about the tourist seats they said yes, you can buy a seat. Was pissed that I specifically had to ask about the tourist quota since it was never offered and it was pretty obvious we were tourists.

I think the rates are the same as for Indian citizens.

Every train does not have a foreign tourist quota.

The charges are the same.

0002 means two berths are available under the foreign tourist quota for that day, for that train.

Yep worth remembering that Shimla! So many people have the idea that the tourist quota is a "solve all" ticket that will always get you on a train.
The reality is a little different, all trains do not have a tourist quota and many have very small tourist quotas which sell out almost instantly!
So please don't attck your journery armed with the idea, that the tourist quota will always get you no the train ....... It won't!

You'll be amazed how many quota there are in the railway sytem. On top of the tourist quota there are VIP quota, sporters qouta, diplomats qouta, military qota visiting foreign dignataries qouta etc. etc. etc..

We have been booked in one of these other qouta on a number of occasions just by nicely asking the head of the booking / railway station to use his personla influence (and for the normal price and a dutch postcard).

Hans

Yeah it's worth remembering for our older members that foriegner can also avail themselves of the over 60s rule on IR, with a thirty percent discount!

Yes, cyberhippie, that's the senior citizens' concessional fare. I believe once the age (60 and above) is entered on the reservation form, the fare given by the computer is already the discounted fare.

I also believe that one needn't carry any proof of age during the journey.

Dear Shimla,
Your observation:-
""I also believe that one needn't carry any proof of age during the journey""
----
@@@A senior citizen must carry proof of age during journey. If he forgets to do so, then the difference between Full Fare and SRCTZN Fare will be collected from him.
(Prior to this Rule, if a SRCTZN forgets to carry proof of age, then he was being treated as travelling without ticket, and he used to be penalized accordingly. My mother had to pay heavy penalty when she had forgotten to carry the proof of age. Subsequent to that, this amendment came)
============================== ==
Dear Diplomacy,
If the Foreigners purchase Indrail Pass, then they can reserve Berths under General Quota 360 days in advance.
=====
FTQ is meant for those foreigners, who had to make the trip within a short notice. However, any foreigner or a NRI with a valid passport can tap this FTQ.
================
In another Topic, relevant Rules for Indrail Pass Holders have been discussed.

Theres a special foreign tourist quota and the tickets have to be bought with foreign currency or with an encashment certificate(what ever that is) .The accept debit cards but done accept credit cards thats what i found out yesterday when i went to book tickets .In mumbai its at Counter 52 at CST(V.T) station 1st floor . (this tout told he its closed at 3 haha i just walked up and found it open ) the counter is also on the first floor just behind the indian tourism dept opposite churchgate .Have your LP guides with you as the counter staff was totally unhelpful and asked me which train no I would like to take and asked my refer to a lonely planet book and get back to him. Indrial is only for people who travel frequently and not a low budget traveller

Thanks for the clarification. When was this rule of having to carry age-proof re-introduced ?

Alright, thank you. At least the route we will be travelling on seems to offer certain tickets for foreigners. Should be no problem getting two seats!

Is it true these tickets must be paid in foreign currency? Would dollar do?

I thought the foreign tourist quota thing just meant that white people could get a seat on a sold-out train. It's not something you have to ask for, and it costs the same as a regular ticket. It's just seating capacity held in reserve for tourists (or VIPs or whomever).

I imagine that if you are an NRI, you have to offer some proof of your foreigness . . .

Even if you are "white people" you normally have to show your passport when you book a foreign tourist quota ticket and more often then not they also check your visa to make sure you actually are a tourist.