How much advance booking needed?

Yildiz

Ive seen alot of threads about advance booking trains etc? How much in advance is needed for a daytime journey? I am planning to travel from Cochin to Kannur towards end of January, using chair class. I will be in Cochin area for about 10 days before this journey. Will it be safe to wait until I am there to book? Or should I do so beforehand via internet to be on safe side?

How about bus travel? I want a comfortable bus ....does this need to be booked much in advance also? (Going Kannur to Mysore beginning Feb)

Shoggoth

I was there last month, and didn't have any problems booking trains the day before I needed them. I traveled first class/chair class AC between Dehli, Agra, and Jaipur. I used the hotel concierge to book in Delhi (slight mark-up). When I arrived at the station in Agra, I got my tix for Jaipur right at the station before going to my hotel, and did the same thing upon arrival in Jaipur to get tix to Delhi. I highly recommend, though, that you get a train schedule and figure out which trains you want in advance.

Sorry, can't help you with the bus. Have fun!

Yildiz

Thanks for advice. Yes I have studied the very comprehensive Railways website ............... I know exactly which trains I want. It was just the how to book from outside India that seemed so complicated. I will stop worrying about that now, and organise it once I get there.

gopalk

Trains are running full now. You may want to get the advance booking done right away for travel from now upto Jan 20.

cyberhippie

Yildiz you don't need to book ahead if you have 10 days in Cochin before you need a train to Kannur.
If push comes to shove, you can just buy a gereral class ticket (no reservation needed) and if you want, upgrade whilst on the train but I'm sure you'll be able to get a reservation!!

vsp27759

Dear yildiz,
Please keep the following two trains in your view for a day-time journey:-
---
You Queried For Train No Train Name Date Runs From Source Runs On
6305 CANNANORE EXP 09/12/2005 ERANAKULAM JN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN


SNo Stn Code Stn Name Route No. Arrival Time Dep. Time Distance Day Remark
1 ERS ERANAKULAM JN 1 Source 06:45 0 1
2 AWY ALWAYE 1 07:05 07:07 20 1
3 TCR TRICHUR 1 07:55 07:57 75 1
4 SRR SHORANUR JN 1 08:52 08:55 107 1
5 KTU KUTTIPPURAM 1 09:29 09:30 137 1
6 TIR TIRUR 1 09:49 09:50 152 1
7 CLT CALICUT 1 11:00 11:05 193 1
8 BDJ BADAGARA 1 11:49 11:50 240 1
9 TLY TELLICHERRY 1 12:09 12:10 262 1
10 CAN CANNANORE 1 13:00 00:00 283 1
--------------------------------------------------------
You Queried For Train No Train Name Date Runs From Source Runs On
6349 PARASURAM EXP 09/12/2005 TRIVANDRUM CNTL MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN


SNo Stn Code Stn Name Route No. Arrival Time Dep. Time Distance Day Remark
1 TVC TRIVANDRUM CNTL 1 Source 06:30 0 1
2 VAK VARKALA 1 06:59 07:00 41 1
3 QLN QUILON JN 1 07:25 07:30 65 1
4 KPY KARUNAGAPALLI 1 07:51 07:52 92 1
5 KYJ KAYANKULAM JN 1 08:03 08:05 106 1
6 MVLK MAVELIKARA 1 08:14 08:15 114 1
7 CNGR CHENGANNUR 1 08:26 08:27 126 1
8 TRVL TIRUVALLA 1 08:36 08:37 135 1
9 CGY CHANGANACHERI 1 08:46 08:47 143 1
10 KTYM KOTTAYAM 1 09:15 09:20 161 1
11 ETM ETTUMANUR 1 09:29 09:30 171 1
12 PVRD PIRAVAM ROAD 1 09:49 09:50 192 1
13 ERN ERNAKULAM TOWN 1 10:55 11:00 223 1
14 AWY ALWAYE 1 11:17 11:20 240 1
15 AFK ANGAMALI 1 11:31 11:32 249 1
16 DINR DIVINE NAGAR 1 11:44 11:45 262 1
17 CKI CHALAKUDI 1 11:50 11:51 264 1
18 IJK IRINJALAKUDA 1 12:00 12:01 271 1
19 TCR TRICHUR 1 12:25 12:30 295 1
20 WKI WADAKANCHERI 1 12:49 12:50 311 1
21 SRR SHORANUR JN 1 13:40 13:45 327 1
22 PTB PATTAMBI 1 13:59 14:00 339 1
23 KTU KUTTIPPURAM 1 14:19 14:20 357 1
24 TIR TIRUR 1 14:39 14:40 372 1
25 TA TANUR 1 14:49 14:50 380 1
26 PGI PARPANANGADI 1 14:59 15:00 388 1
27 FK FEROK 1 15:19 15:20 404 1
28 CLT CALICUT 1 16:00 16:05 413 1
29 QLD QUILANDI 1 16:29 16:30 438 1
30 BDJ BADAGARA 1 16:49 16:50 460 1
31 MAHE MAHE 1 17:04 17:05 472 1
32 TLY TELLICHERRY 1 17:19 17:20 482 1
33 CAN CANNANORE 1 18:05 18:10 502 1
============================== ================
..............and for a most convenient overnight journey, the following train:-
----
You Queried For Train No Train Name Date Runs From Source Runs On
6604 MAVELI EXPRESS 09/12/2005 TRIVANDRUM CNTL TUE THU SAT


SNo Stn Code Stn Name Route No. Arrival Time Dep. Time Distance Day Remark
1 TVC TRIVANDRUM CNTL 1 Source 19:25 0 1
2 VAK VARKALA 1 19:59 20:00 41 1
3 QLN QUILON JN 1 20:25 20:30 65 1
4 KYJ KAYANKULAM JN 1 21:05 21:07 106 1
5 HAD HARIPPAD 1 21:19 21:20 119 1
6 AMPA AMBALAPUZHA 1 21:39 21:40 137 1
7 ALLP ALLEPPEY 1 21:52 21:55 149 1
8 MAKM MARARIKULAM 1 22:09 22:10 162 1
9 SRTL SHERTALAI 1 22:19 22:20 173 1
10 TUVR TURAVUR 1 22:29 22:30 183 1
11 ERS ERANAKULAM JN 1 23:10 23:15 206 1
12 AWY ALWAYE 1 23:40 23:43 225 1
13 TCR TRICHUR 1 00:40 00:45 280 2
14 SRR SHORANUR JN 1 01:55 02:00 313 2
15 KTU KUTTIPPURAM 1 02:29 02:30 343 2
16 TIR TIRUR 1 02:49 02:50 358 2
17 CLT CALICUT 1 04:10 04:15 399 2
18 QLD QUILANDI 1 04:39 04:40 423 2
19 BDJ BADAGARA 1 04:59 05:00 445 2
20 MAHE MAHE 1 05:14 05:15 458 2
21 TLY TELLICHERRY 1 05:29 05:30 467 2
22 CAN CANNANORE 1 06:05 06:10 488 2
23 PAY PAYYANUR 1 06:44 06:45 521 2
============================== ==========
The option is your's. :-)
===============
V.Srinivasa Prasad
9.12.2005/16.20 hrs.

Yildiz

Thanks for all the replies and help. I'd actually prefer to get the train booked beforehand ....I've organised the accommodation in Kannur so wont be changing my plans. The problem is that the Railway site requires a delivery address in India which is covered by a list of pincodes they give. I have my first accommodation booked ..... but this is an ayurveda center on Vypin Island and the pincode is not included on the Railways list. I want to stay in Fort Cochin itself for a few days before I catch the train ....and probably this would be covered by the listed pincodes .... but I have not succeeded in getting a reply from any of the hotels I have contacted asking if I can book a room!! I'm almost tempted to give up and just book a big hotel in Ernakulam but I would really love to stay in Fort Cochin itself. (but thats an accommodation problem rather than a railway one.......)

I will try for a few days more to organise hotel and hopefully then have a delivery address for the train ticket. If I cannot manage this, would it be possible to reserve the ticket in advance but collect the actual ticket itself from the railways office or agent?