Is an Indrail pass worth the money?

sanath1978

Once had to settle for Second Sleeper, and going out to Bhuj on a daytime train, it was the old 3rd Class cars from the 70s. Otherwise, I was always in First, or 2-Tier AC (only once, thank Heavens -- I hate AC and nearly froze to death).

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Sanath

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Thurya

I don't know anything about this IndRail Pass.
These are my questions:-

1. After obtaining a Indrail pass, are all journeys free for the valid period?

2. How can I reserve a ticket with Indrail Pass?

3. Can I book tickets through internet with Indrail Pass?

Thank You.

wonderwomanusa

Yes, the IndRail pass covers, as far as I know, the costs of your tickets on all regular trains.

You still have to make reservations for each journey, which you must do at the station. They don't have online-booking for this.

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steven_ber

I've had reason to look into an indrail pass lately, and with the dollar rate as it is, a 90 day pass in 2A costs $530, amazing value.

WW.USA, when holding a valid indrail pass, do you just go to any window in the computerised reservation office, or does it have to be a window that indicates that it also serves foreign tourists?

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edwardseco

Interesting update Steven..

wonderwomanusa

Five years ago, I had a 30-day IndRail Pass, bought in Kolkata -- where they hadn't a clue how to handle the transaction. With it, I made reservations in several places that did not have a window set aside for foreign tourists -- though at one station they had to telephone to find out how to handle such things.

Remember, Steven, that with the IndRail Pass, one is eligible for other quotas besides Foreign Tourist -- VIP Quota comes to mind.

Without a pass, I usually manage to flirt a little with a betel-chewing station ticket manager, who very often can find a berth for me. And very often, it has been the reservation clerk who has motioned me to come around to the back of the window to do that!

Thurya

Another thing...One Indrail pass is for one person..right?
Then if there are two or more passengers with Indrail pass, they all have to go to the station to reserve tickets?

steven_ber

I'll try that.

Thanks for the info, useful as always.

Good question, as a agent can book for everyone, I'd say that one member of the travelling party should be able to book tickets for the others.

But do check with the agent who sells you the passes.(and please let us know what they say)

edwardseco

If I try that they may get very nervous indeed..

TimMakins

Hi Guys - Travelling Tim is shortly to be back in India for the winter - Yipee!! It will be my first visit to India since 2005. I have just been checking prices, and it seems that the 90-day 2-Tier AC pass is STILL USD530? Is this right?? If so, that's really brilliant - the price hasn't changed since ?1999? or maybe before!! I am not sure how other rail ticket prices in India have changed over the last few years - no doubt there have been *some* increase - has anyone been following this?

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steven_ber

Hello Tim, great to see you here again, and glad you're getting back to India.

Yes, the Indrail passes are still the same price, they're becoming great value for money, and I may even get myself a 3 month 2A pass, even without pre-bookings, I still think I'll save money over the 3 months.

Regarding general ticket prices.....

July 2001

100kms...SL = 50, 2A = 322
500kms...SL = 166, 2A = 771
1000kms..SL = 270, 2A = 1253
3000kms..SL = 495, 2A = 2362

October 2008

100kms...SL = 56, 2A = 218
500kms...SL = 185, 2A = 721
1000kms..SL = 301, 2A = 1174
3000kms..SL = 541, 2A = 2112

1A and 2A fares are slightly cheaper (about 5-7% I think) in February, March and August.

Overall, Sleeper looks to be about 10% higher, and 2A about 10% cheaper, this is/was mainly due to competition from budget airlines over the last few years.

However, the railway minister (Lalu) was very clever in other ways, countless numbers of trains were speeded up by 5 to 20 minutes, and this pushed their overall average speed to above 55kmph, thus making the train a 'superfast' train, then everyone is charged an additional superfast charge, he also changed Tatkal (last minute) booking to 5 days before date of journey (not including day of travel), then introduced Tatkal to all trains, and on some trains, up to 30% of accommodation is held back for Tatkal, and the Tatkal charges are horrendous (EG. Rs300 on top of fare).

On the plus side, he introduced Garib Rath trains, these have 3A and CC, but use newly designed higher capacity carriages (3A has side middle berths), yet the 3A carriages don't feel much more crowded (new design and raised roofs), yet these trains are somewhere between 35 + 40% cheaper than other trains, and they're supposed to run at (or close to) the speed of the Rajdhani.

List of Garib Rath trains. (pdf)

I got the old fares from my first 'Trains At A Glance', and whilst looking, I found an old Bangladesh train timetable, i forgot I had that, interesting stuff as I plan to visit this winter, are Bangladesh trains as 'easy' to book as Indian trains?

aadil

Well, must say Lalu has turned around the whole economy of the Indian Railways!!! Lots of profit for the railways and lots of benefits for the passengers. I for one am very happy with the way things are moving. Now Kashmir has it's first railway after 100 years of being promised one by the then Maharaja when under British rule. The ticket prices are fortunately going down instead of up under all economic constraints.

Cheers,
Aadil.

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wonderwomanusa

I may be able to let you know about that my mid-November, as I am planning a trip to Bangladesh right now. I think we will leave Kolkata around 23 October, and I'll be there for maybe ten days to two weeks.... and expect to take a few trains.

TimMakins

Hi Steve - many thanks for the Indian train fare info and general updates - I will study carefully. Its incredible that the Pass prices are still the same after so many years, and good news for all foreign travellers. I'll be on a 90 day myself during the next trip - will pick it up in the ITB at Delhi.

Re Bangladesh - I have posted a reply about Bangladesh trains etc on one of my old Bangladesh threads:

Bangladesh - thoughts and advice from my recent trip

jeaux

Is there a shorter pass you would reccomend? We arrive on Dec 15 and I have nothing booked, cannot seem to figure out how to do it! Is it best to use a travel agent here in the states?
Please forgive my ignorance..
jeaux