is it dangerous in indian trains?

Hi, i woudl like to travel from Mumbai to Varanasi by train and I am not sure, if is safty for a girl? and what about train´s class? is it possible to go in SL class in this long distance?

Thanks for answer.

Hi Lenka

Check out this thread:

Women travelling alone by train

Have fun!

Hello, welcome to IM .
I think the consensus in this forum is that Indian trians are quite safe for a lone female to travel overnight.
some tips.....
1. lock and chain your luggage to loops provided under seat
2. book a upper berth if possible (you can lie down whenever you please)

lots of this and more already in various threads. Just read thru them.
class of travel depends on the level of comfort you want. SL can be hot and dusty/dirty and lots of noise.
AC classes(3AC, 2AC) will be comparatively cleaner, quiter and you will get a bedding

Lenka,

Welcome to the forum. I'll try to answer your question or rather say address your concern.

1. It is generally safe.

2. AC classes are a better options, as these coaches are closed and they don't allow casual travellers, trouble makers inside.

3. Safety varies due to combination of factors like

(A) Type of train - Trains like Rajdhani/Shatabdi (they are sort of all AC trains for better paying public) are safest. While all SL class ordinary trains or slow passenger trains letting in all sorts of people, stopping everywhere, may not be safe in all provinces of India

(B) Class of Travel - I have already mentioned AC trains. Even in mixed coach/class trains AC/Ist class coaches will be safer than Sleeper(SL) class.

(C)Area of travel - South, West are safe. North, East and North East are bit rough. Do not believe all those 'everything is fine' reports. I personally prefer a AC coach which covers the Northern provinces of UP and Bihar in night. Keeps troublemakers out.

Single white female, alone in a sleeper class, way to Varanasi in UP ... things can be rough for a first timer to India.

Take a AC coach i.e. AC 2nd / 3rd class instead. That will be comfortable due to two reason, first with daily temeperatures on rise AC will be comfortable and secondly the passengers you meet will be Westernized and accustomed to Westerners in varied degrees.

Enjoy your trip.

Beware of ventilation ducts that deliver chill air to the upper berth parallel with the passage in 2AC. My own headcold was revived by such chill air this week. Pity I had lost my ski cap which would have kept my scalp warm. A scarf or such would useful.

Hi Lenka, welcome to IM.

Last November I’ve been in India with my girlfriend and we have been travelling by train from Rajasthan to Varanasi through UP and MP. No problem at all for what concerns the feeling of being safe. We used to travel in 2AC-upper berth and it’s been really comfortable, all the passengers there usually speak English – we saw many people reading English newspaper –, coaches are quite clean and nobody tries to hassle you (except chai sellers in the early morning ).
While reserving your ticket you can choose the berth you prefer but keep in mind that staying in the four berth side, even in the upper berth, means that you have less privacy (someone is probably sleeping just one meter near to you) but you can easily look to your luggage . On the other hand if you choose the upper berth in the two berth side, you’ll be isolated but without the chance of looking at your luggage which is located under the lower berth.
We tried also 2nd class chair for a day trip and we found it to be very nice because of the “people contact”, we could not speak by ourselves but only with indian people who wanted to know everything about our country.
Have a nice trip.
Max

I've read through a lot of threads and a lot of them seem to recommend chaining your bags. Last time I was in India, I was traveling with a man, but we were in 3rd Class (on the way to Allahabad for the Kumbh Mela, so the other classes were sold out). We didn't chain bags and had no problems.

This time, I'm traveling with two other women, and we'll be in 2nd AC. Is it really necessary to bring locks/chains, or will be be fine? Routes are Kolkata to Varanasi overnight, and Varanasi to Agra overnight.

Hard to say whether it really is necessary or not. I travel with a very distinctive (red plaid) nylon bag -- a razor blade would easily provide access. I always carry a padlock with me and lock this to the bottom of the lower berth, and then I mostly stop worrying about it. Anybody determined could cut it off the lock and carry it away, but nobody can casually walk away with it.

Put it this way: if it will increase your peace of mind and relieve the stress of travelling, carry the lock.

Do note: it's always a bit worrisome to travel between Varanasi and Delhi/Agra. There are so many scams and schemes as you go through Bihar, that it justifies taking precautions you might not ordinarily both with.

We travelled all around India on overnight trains 2nd class AC with not a hint of trouble. Although we were a party of three and felt quite safe we did share a "cabin" on an overnight journey from Warangal to Varkala with a girl who was travelling alone. She seemed quite confident and relaxed about her lone tour of India.

Many local travellers chain their bags, and loops are provided for the purpose.

Light chains and small locks are used: it deters the opportunist thief only. Stuff does get picked up and carried off at intermediate stops, especially at night.

It is a very small thing to do to increase peace of mind. Your valuables should be attached to your body or under your pillow.

years ago, my french teacher once told us about a young french girl travelling by train to varanasi from mumbai and how, although she was obviously unwell, she got harassed by local men throughout the journey. i don't suppose things are very different now.